Jakarta to have Betawi playhouse

Jakarta to have Betawi playhouse

Jakarta will soon have a special venue for Betawi cultural shows
on a 3,000-square-meter plot of land in Kemayoran, Central
Jakarta. The new playhouse will be named after Betawi legendary
actor/comedian/singer Benyamin Sueb.

The proposal to construct the building was revealed on Monday
by City Museum and Culture Agency head Setiawan Kanani during a
hearing with City Council Commission E for education, culture and
social welfare.

"In the playhouse, we plan to present various Betawi cultural
shows, including musical performances of Gambang Kromong,
Tanjidor, Maramis and Kroncong Tugu. We will cooperate with the
City Tourism Agency to make the new playhouse a tourist
destination," he said.

Head of the Central Jakarta Museum and Cultural Office Syamsul
Marsuf, said the agency has requested Rp 9 billion (US$994,475)
in funds to acquire the land.

He refused to reveal the exact location of the proposed
playhouse, fearing that land speculators would immediately buy
the land from locals and sell it for a much higher price to the
administration.

Commission D strongly supports the proposal, saying Jakarta
needs a special venue to develop Betawi culture. Such traditional
cultural shows are expected to become the trademark of tourism in
the city.

"We will approve the funds proposed for the project's land
acquisition when we deliberate the 2005 city budget draft
together with city administration officials," commission chairman
Dani Anwar said.

The new playhouse will accompany the Jakarta Playhouse in
Pasar Baru, the Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center Playhouse in
Cikini and the Balai Sarbini in Semanggi, all in Central Jakarta.
The British International School (BIS) is also planning to build
a performing arts center, which it says will be the largest and
the most modern in the city. -- JP