June 27, 2024
JAKARTA – Founded in 1974, Teater Keliling is a prolific group of theatrical artists that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a fresh, musical reinterpretation of the classic play Mega Mega by Arifin C. Noer.
Teater Keliling has been diligent in archiving since 1974, preserving everything from photos of their first performances to clippings and newspaper coverage. Some of Teater Keliling’s archives are stored at the National Archives and the HB Jassin Literary Documentation Center in Jakarta. PHOTO: OKKY ARDYA/THE JAKARTA POST
The group has toured various countries over the decades, traveling far and wide across the globe to perform its musical and dramatic productions at prestigious events. These included the Indian Ocean Arts Festival 1979 in Perth, Australia, the inaugural 1994 International Festival of Young Professional Theatre in Sibiu, Romania, and the Internationales Theater Frankfurt in 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany, to name just a few.
As a theater director, research, script study and mastering the story content are crucial. Therefore, a director is required to study all fields of art, social sciences, culture, politics and even science to broaden their knowledge. PHOTO: OKKY ARDYA/THE JAKARTA POST
Helmed by director Rudolf Puspa, Teater Keliling has performed over 100 productions since its inception, with a rotating cast of performers throughout its illustrious history, demonstrating the continued enthusiasm for the theatrical arts among Indonesian youths.
For Rudolf Puspa (standing) and Dery Syrna theater is their life. Despite their age and the challenges of theater in the digital era, they continue to introduce the art of acting with diverse stories that highlight Indonesia’s cultural heritage. “We don’t make a living from theater. We live for theater.” PHOTO: OKKY ARDYA/THE JAKARTA POST
“In theater, whatever we want to say, whether that is a sentence, a speech, a song, it can be heard by many people at the same time. That’s what makes us love theater so much. It’s not just a performance, it gives us a voice. I think that’s what has made us persevere until now,” said Rudolf, reflecting on the troupe’s long-lasting presence.
Teater Keliling engages young people in the arts and encourages their participation in performances using contemporary language. Teater Keliling invites young people to express their emotions through theater, with performers ranging from middle school students to office workers. PHOTO: OKKY ARDYA/THE JAKARTA POST
His wife and cofounder Dery Syrna stands alongside Rudolf in leading Teater Keliling.
“We welcome young people, and we believe in the next generation. We do this as a family, we spread love between us, there is no seniority, and we all care. Because of that, we perform with all our hearts,” said Dery.
Among the main assets of a theater performer are their body and soul. Besides physical readiness to be flexible and agile, a theater performer must also possess sharp intellect and deep inner strength. PHOTO: OKKY ARDYA/THE JAKARTA POST
Recently, the group has started entrusting the next generation to take a lead in realizing its creative vision. For example, Rudolf’s daughter Dolfry Indra Suri took on the dual role of producer and playwright for its latest musical production, Mega Mega.
“A performance must be something close to the audience, especially stories that capture their attention, and strive to be interactive with the audience,” says Rudolf Puspa. PHOTO: OKKY ARDYA/THE JAKARTA POST
With a continuous influx of new talent bringing fresh shows to the stage and a trusted roster of creative leaders helming its productions, it is safe to say that we can expect another 50 years of Teater Keliling.
Teater Keliling collaborates with local fashion designers for their costumes. Since 2019, Theo Antoinette Rintoko (center), a designer from Salatiga Carnival Center, has been contributing to Teater Keliling’s wardrobe. Theo frequently integrates ethnic elements, such as batik and weaving, into the costume designs. PHOTO: OKKY ARDYA/THE JAKARTA POST