'I La Galigo' finally back home

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

I La Galigo, a theater work based on the 14th century epic poem Sureq Galigo (Galigo Manuscripts), will be staged at home for the first time. The production has already toured major cities including Singapore, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and New York.

Head of the City Culture and Museum Agency Aurora Tambunan said on Thursday that I La Galigo, the story of which originated with the Bugis, an indigenous people from South Sulawesi, would be performed from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12 at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah's (TMII) Teater Tanah Airku.

"I La Galigo directed by theater visionary Robert Wilson has been successfully performed all over the world. Jakartans will soon have an opportunity to see the great work," Aurora told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Aurora said the work featured a cast of some 50 Indonesian performers, including actors, dancers and musicians.

Besides Wilson, the creative team comprises a group of international artists including American filmmaker Rhoda Grauer, Indonesian musician Rahayu Supanggah and Indonesian dancer Restu Kusumaningrum.

Longer than the Hindu Mahabharata manuscripts, Sureq Galigo details the creation of Earth, its inhabitants and six generations of gods. Its story focuses on a twin brother and sister who fall in love in their mother's womb.

The New York Times called I La Galigo a "stunning work" when it was performed in June as part of New York's Lincoln Center Festival.

Spokesman for the organizing committee Yusi Avianto Pareanom said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla would attend the opening night of the performance here.

According to Yusi, lights for the show were being hired from Germany.

"We are now very busy as opening night approaches. We must ensure the performance is a success," he told the Post on Thursday.

He said tickets for the three-hour performance were priced from Rp 250,000 (US$25) to Rp 750,000.

According to one of the organizers, who requested anonymity, the organizing committee is still seeking sponsorship for the Rp 6 billion production.

"We will invite more sponsors to fund the event because we cannot rely on ticket sales alone," said the organizer, adding that renting theater lights from Germany would cost Rp 2 billion.