Teater Koma Invites Public to Reflect on Humanity Across Eras

Teater Koma is restaging the play ‘Rumah Sakit Jiwa’ (Mental Hospital) 35 years after its debut, inviting the public to reflect on the meaning of humanity across different eras. The play, written by the late N. Riantiarno, presents a new artistic interpretation that advances visual exploration, music, and character depth while maintaining the relevance of its story about humanity, power, and social issues.

Staged on Wednesday night (29/7) in collaboration with Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation, the play tells the story of a new doctor named Rogusta who works at a mental hospital led by Professor Sidarta. Rogusta, who has experience healing patients with a more humanistic, empathetic, and friendship-based approach, hopes to apply the same methods at his new workplace so patients can recover and reintegrate into society. However, his intentions are thwarted by the rules imposed by Professor Sidarta, leading to clashes and conflict as some staff members feel their positions are threatened.

The production is brought to life through elaborate stage design, lighting, music, multimedia, and costume design. The set features a multi-level structure with stairs that serve as a metaphor for the relationships between characters, representing distance, hierarchy, and the power dynamics between doctors and patients at the mental hospital. The narrative is supported by a precise musical composition by Fero A. Stefanus, which evokes emotion throughout the performance.

While the script remains the same as the 1991 production, the artistic approach has been updated to reflect changing times, technological developments, and growing public awareness of mental health. The script was originally born after the theatre group faced several performance bans in the late 1980s and early 1990s, emerging from discussions among Teater Koma members about various societal issues.

Director Rangga Riantiarno explained that the creative process for this production went beyond script readings. The cast conducted direct observations at mental hospitals, held discussions with clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, and deepened their references on mental health to ensure each character was built with empathy and comprehensive understanding. Costume designers Samuel Wattimena and Rima Ananda created outfits that not only represent each character’s profession but also express their psychological state, inner dynamics, and character journey throughout the performance.