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