Street kids to stage 'Buyung Don't Cry'

JAKARTA (JP): Behind the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ)'s campus building, a group of Jakarta street children practice the play Buyung, Don't Cry, under the guidance of Suryadi Sanubari.

They will perform the play on Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon, the 11th of June, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The event will be held in Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, the Jakarta Play House.

The main sponsors of this event are the Roteract Club, British Council Jakarta, and seven Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They have organized this up event as a way to initiate an art workshop for street children and to create awareness among the people that such a workshop exists.

It is hoped that the money raised from this event will provide capital for the NGOs to continue their programs to help street children.

Thirty-two children were picked by the NGOs for this play, and represent five mayoralties of Jakarta.

Suryadi, a freelance worker, has been employed by the British Council Jakarta to direct the play. He says that it is a challenge to work with these street children, but it isn't the first time; he was an assistant in a similar event seven months ago with a play directed by David Glass.

"The kids are fast learners, a skill they have learned by surviving on the streets," he says. Personally, he hopes to instill a sense of self-worth and value in the children through this event, and teach them to have principles in life.

The tale tells of the trials of a young boy who goes out from his village, to find his father in the big city. During his search he experiences hunger, rain, heat, and cold. Something he hardly ever experienced in his village.

The hard life of the city makes him beg for food and during the night he must search for a place to sleep. But he keeps the faith that he will find his father.

Udin, a little 12-year-old boy, who is part of the play, says he used to ride buses and sing for money. But he was very eager to sacrifice a few hours of his day to practice for this play. "I am having fun," he says.

Interested in finding out how the tale ends? Then come to the performance. Prices of tickets range from Rp 10,000 for children to Rp 25,000 for balcony seats. (Boy de Waart)