Wijaya Kusuma Teater to stage 'Pengadilan'

Wijaya Kusuma Teater to stage 'Pengadilan'

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A crooked judiciary and cancer-like corruption as well as aloof bureaucrats are not a new phenomena in this country.

While activists and students have their own way of confronting the exasperating situation, many others tend to silently complain, or in other words do nothing to address the ills.

Playwright Tio Djarot has found his own way to address the issues too. By recreating his recent production, Pengadilan (The Court), Tio expects his incriminations over the judicial system in the country to be heard.

Pengadilan was initially staged at the prestigious Gedung Kesenian Jakarta in January.

This time the group will stage the play on Sept. 10 and 11, at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM)'s Teater Kecil in Cikini, Central Jakarta.

"I added some details because there are some new developments in our legal sector. How can a big time corruptor get away with his wrongdoings? How can the executive (government) let it happen?" Tio told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

In the 90-minute play, Tio's Wijaya Kusuma Teater brings a portrayal of the country's badly managed judicial system and the surrounding social ills to the stage.

"There are three things I want to highlight in my play; the discrimination, the courtroom mafia and the arrogant bureaucrats," said Tio who is also a musician.

Trials of a corruptor and a chicken thief -- the first and the second scene, respectively -- are used to contrast the glaring outcomes.

Borrowing the Anglo-Saxon and U.S. courtroom styles, Tio converts the stage into a courtroom, complete with tables and seats for judges and jury.

"Esthetically the Anglo-Saxon courtroom model is better than ours," Tio said, citing one of the practical reasons for picking the setting.

Besides, the atmosphere in the Anglo-Saxon courtroom is more dynamic than Indonesia's commonly dull and inflexible trial procedures.

"Some actors and actress will be among the spectators so it looks like there will be interruption from the audience," said Tio who is brother of filmmaker Slamet Rahardjo Djarot and musician-cum-politician Eros Djarot.

Tio, who has taken minor roles in several local films including Cry Justice (Marsinah) and Gie, said the play was aimed at educating the public as he hoped people would see that "something can be done to end injustice and corruption".

"If other countries can do that, why can't we?"

To support the performance Tio has approached the country's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) which, he said, gave a positive response. "Not for financial support, we're completely independent," he swiftly added.

In the future he wishes to bring the play to the House of Representatives and the Indonesian Military Headquarters as he says "All I want is high-ranking officials and military officers to see this play. The temptation is always there for them to misuse their powers."