A Comprehensive Report on the Development of Modern Drama in Indonesia

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of modern drama in Indonesia. It begins with an executive summary, followed by an introduction that defines drama and its various forms. The report then delves into the different types of Indonesian drama, including traditional, classical, and modern forms, highlighting their characteristics and historical context. The evolution of modern drama is discussed, tracing its development and the impact of Western influences. The report also explores specific forms like Wayang Wong and shadow puppet shows, and the role of buskers and street theater. It analyzes the present state of Indonesian drama and concludes with a summary of the key findings. The report examines the techniques used in Indonesian drama, the purpose of performances, and the changes that have occurred over time. It underscores the cultural significance of drama in Indonesia, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in this art form.

Running head: MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
Modern Drama in Indonesia
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
Executive Summary
The focus of this report will be on the stages through which the drama of Indonesia has
evolved. The different forms of drama are discussed that will provide a clear picture of the art
form. Different styles and stages through which the drama has passed and reached the present
form. The purpose for performing drama will also be analysed and clearly presented. The
different techniques that were used by the artists to make their art visually appealing and
grandeur will be discussed. The report will provide a detailed assessment of the art of drama
in Indonesia and the influence of the western cultures on it. The present state of drama will be
showcased that will provide information about the state it is in the present times.

2MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Indonesian Drama......................................................................................................................4
Types of Indonesian Drama...................................................................................................4
Traditional Drama..............................................................................................................4
Classical Drama.................................................................................................................5
Modern Drama...................................................................................................................5
Evolution of Modern Drama..................................................................................................5
Impact of west on Indonesian Drama.................................................................................6
Human Wayang Shows......................................................................................................7
Wayang Wong, Court Dance-Drama.................................................................................7
Developments in Wayang Wong.......................................................................................7
Shadow Puppet Shows.......................................................................................................8
Buskers and Street Theater in Indonesia............................................................................8
Indonesian Drama in Present Times......................................................................................9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................12

3MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
Introduction
Drama is the fictional depiction of human emotions through performance on stage,
lyrical enactment and poetry. They are enacted on stage in theatres and broadcasted on
televisions and radio. The word drama traces the roots from the Greek word that in literal
sense means action. The two masks that represent the theatre are associated with human
feelings of happiness and tragedy of life. The depiction of the experiences a person has gone
through in life by the actors who mold themselves according to the need of the character is
the transition that happens in drama. Drama in modern times is not associated with any
particular feeling. It is mainly focused on enacting the experiences of people irrespective of
them being good or bad. Drama involves the collective effort of people to bring alive the
experiences shared by other people. Mime is a variation of drama that involves depiction of
story through the body movements on lyrical music. Musical is another variety of drama that
involves the narration of the story through dialogue delivery and songs. Closet drama is that
form of drama that demands reading skills and does not focus on performance. During the
medieval times, dramas were enacted in churches on the events mentioned in Bible (Caust,
2015). The dramas brought back the depicted events back to reality. People were made aware
about the tragic and the prosperous events that took place in the life of Jesus Christ. Theatre
developed and flourished since the prehistoric times. It accumulated in it the cultures and
traditions of different countries and prospered across the globe. In ancient times, theatre was
performed in the countries of Egypt, Greece and Rome. In this report, the focus will be on the
evolution of Indonesian drama in modern times.

4MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
Indonesian Drama
In the art of Indonesian Drama, there were certain techniques that were involved for
the proper enactment of the emotions. Theatre in the former times had sermons, which
involved calling of the spirits of the ancestors of the people whose life was enacted. It
involved the recognition of good spirits who overpowered the evil spirits. The acts of bravery
and heroism of the ancestors were portrayed by artists on the stage (Aberle, 2014). There
were others sermons that were performed by the actors to depict the events that took place
during the war and glorify those individuals who were involved in it. Traditional theatres are
still found in many parts of the world but after the imperial powers took over the country of
Indonesia, the development of modern theatres emerged.
Types of Indonesian Drama
Three types of theatres are recognized in Indonesia. They are categorized as
traditional, classical and modern drama.
Traditional Drama
The traditional drama of Indonesia included the ethnic groups that resided in the
country. It was performed during auspicious ceremonies, which comprised of circumcision,
the pre-wedding and post-wedding functions, when a new house is bought and the family
decides to move into that house (Aberle, 2014). At that time, all the expenses that generate in
the process are to borne by the person by the host of the function. The invited people enjoy
drama as a visual treat.
Classical Drama
This type of theatre was performed at commercial areas and the residences of the
royals. The theme around which the classical drama revolved was the royal family (Fukuoka,
2016). The royal family was praised during the performance in classical drama. The story

5MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
centered round epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana and the royal families that were depicted
in the stories. The use of leather and wood puppets was predominant in this style of drama
(Caust, 2015). They drama was staged where the vocals were provided by puppeteers and the
puppets were used for enactment.
Modern Drama
Modern drama comprised both the techniques of the traditional and classical drama. It
started in the year 1920 in Indonesia, where both the styles belonging to the Dutch and Asian
drama styles were used to enact the stories. In the later part of the nineteenth century, the
subject for depiction changed. The stories used for enactment of stories now shifted from
royal family and epics to the experiences the common people have in their daily lives (Caust,
2015).
Evolution of Modern Drama
During the transition through which the drama of Indonesia passed, the traditional
aspect of performance changed. The drama under the reign of Suharto suffocated and the
emotions of the society were not allowed to be depicted properly. The drama that dealt with
the depiction of events related to the issues of the society were already non-existent in the
society. The acts that staged the political execution of the leaders by the existent powers led
to the imprisonment of the writer of the script. After the regime of Suharto ended the drama
in Indonesia witnessed rebirth. The dramas that landed the writers in jail were now staged
without any fear. Dance performances were restricted only in the royal courts for the
performing of certain customary rituals but with the beginning of the twentieth century, a
variety of changes emerged in drama. Dance that was legal only in the courtrooms was now
available for the public to train and learn and it came to be known as democratization of
dance.

6MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
Impact of west on Indonesian Drama
In the year 1918, an institution was founded that taught dance to the common people
of the society. The royal family started the revolution in the field of dance. A meagre amount
was charged for teaching dance to the people who wished to learn. In present times, dance
performances mainly aim at entertaining the tourists. Presently two societies of dance that
stage active performances are Dalem Pujokusuman and Dalem Notopraian associations. The
Indonesian Drama witnessed a shift during the period when it was in the process of attaining
freedom. In 1940s the traditional dramas that earlier focused only on the depiction of royalty
were now used to provoke the national sentiments and used for the propagation of the spirit
of patriotism. During 1950s, a number of ethnic groups were created which reflected through
the arts prevalent in the society. The emergence of new nationalistic drama organisations
followed the lines of European countries. The plots depicted in drama that focused on the
traditional and royal aspect were now laying importance on history and modernity (Cohen,
2016). The focus was now completely envisaged realistic scenarios and naturalism. The
interest of the people of Indonesia was constantly growing towards dance and drama. A
number of plays that belonged to the European poets and writers were staged in the
Indonesian theatres, which included plays written by Shakespeare, Chekov, Tennessee and
Camus. The groups that performed the dramas aimed at the reflection of changes that either
emerged or were emerging in the society. Criticizing the policies of the government was the
main theme of the dramas enacted during this period. The modern dramas projected the styles
of Indonesia and presented the aesthetic picture of the country. The earlier cultural groups
related to drama were intellectually sound and now they consisted of numerous modern
theatre groups.

7MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
Human Wayang Shows
Wayang is a word in the Indonesian language that is used for puppets. The art using
wayang or puppets emerged around 1000 years ago in the Indonesian drama. The shows
using puppets are major occasions that are held in the society. In some theatres, human
puppets were used who performed the roles that were played by puppets. Another form of art
that is included in this puppetry is the known as Wayang toreng. During the performance in
this art form, the performers need to wear masks. The dramas performed in this genre
revolved on the plots that were based on the life of the Buddhist and Hindu kings (Cohen,
2016). There are shows that are performed all night long in which the actors are aesthetically
dressed and the stages are decorated beautifully.
Wayang Wong, Court Dance-Drama
In this art form the performance that were to be staged started in the early mornings
they lasted for a longer period of time and sometimes continued for days. The Wayang Wong
is the greatest art in world theatre. The performances were demanding on the economy that it
took a toll on the royal treasury. This art form was very expensive which sometimes led to the
borrowing of a heavy amount of money by the royalty from the Dutch. The performances
staged under this art form had deep meanings that identified itself with the concept of God.
Large spectacles were used during performances that symbolized respect for the royalty.
Developments in Wayang Wong
During the nineteenth century, the dramas based on the life of the Indonesian heroes
found advent. These stories mentioned the stories related to East Javanese Majaphit dynasty
(Rusliana, 2017). This was the first time that a group consisting of all the females performed
on the stage and sang along with performing. In present times, Wayang Wong is performed
extensively and is often referred as classical dance drama belonging to the land of Java.
During the twentieth century, the performance of the dramas based on the Wayang Wong art

8MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
form has completely changed and the focus is now on performance that was earlier on the
lavish stage decorations and expensive costumes. The groups that performed this art form
mainly performed in the small towns and cities. Despite, the impact of modernization these
groups have successfully maintained their original style of portraying the acts through dance
and drama.
Shadow Puppet Shows
Shadow Puppet Shows were the favorite among the Indonesian masses. It used the
technique of narration for the portrayal of the story. The one who narrates the story is called
the puppet master and in native language he is referred as a Dalang (Osnes, 2014). His job is
to execute the puppets with the dialogues he is delivering. The tourists as well as the natives
enjoy the shadow puppet shows. The narration is concerned with the periodical dramas of
Mahabharata and Ramayana and the other epics that were prevalent in the Indonesian land.
The puppet master illustrated the events from the epics using his own story weaving
techniques, which involved the adventurous quests of the heroes of the stories for some
weapons, treasures or in search of their partners. In this art form, the hero of the epic emerged
as the winner after long struggling battles, which were fought by him and his armies. The
master depicted the heroic tales marvelously by using his puppets (Foley, 2016).
Buskers and Street Theater in Indonesia
The performances in the Buskers and Street Theatre now shifted on the roads. Small
groups started to sing and perform their acts on the streets. The need for closed places that
consisted of grand stages and lavish costumes had become vague. The acts were now mainly
staged in busy market places and the areas that witnessed heavy inflow of people (Keeler,
2017). The performers received money from the people who passed by as a token of
appreciation for their art. This art form became popular with the mass appeal it had. It mainly
consisted of the people whose songs dealt with the local public. The actors performed the

9MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
dramas on the streets in front of a small gathering of people. People clapped and showed their
appreciation for the performances with their gesture.
Two Dramas of Indonesia
Wayang Kulit Shadow Show of Mahabharata and Ramayana
For many centuries, the shadow puppet shows have been the center of attraction for
the people of Indonesia and outside world. It is a prominent part of the culture of Indonesia.
The three dimensional wooden puppet are used to tell and portray the stories. It is mainly
associated with the Javanese tribe of Central Java and Bali. In present times, these shows are
performed in the palace of the Indonesian king. It is usually performed on the full moon
nights and provides an elegant view. It is the most popular form of drama in Indonesia. The
art form uses detailed outfit and there is intricate work on them. The detailing of the costumes
is visually appealing to the eyes of the viewers. Many artists are required to make a single
puppet. People who come to witness the show are welcomed to learn the details of the art by
the artists. Portrayal of Hindu mythological events by the Wayang artists are very common.
They include many Javan concepts in those plays and present it in front of the audience. They
portray the good characters that were there in that era. The struggle the good characters faced
while they struggled for the triumph of truth is depicted. The dilemma that arose from the
ethical perspective and presented that those who are considered good cannot always be moral
and those who are said to possess negative traits cannot always be immoral.
The depiction of Hindu sagas comes under the classical form of this art. In this art
form traditional gamelan orchestra was used that was present in the ceremonies of birth and
weddings that were considered important in the Indonesian society. They imparted some
specific social messages that were for the betterment of the society. This type of play
attracted a large number of audience that was eager to witness the shows. In the earlier times,

10MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
the puppet master mainly projected his stories through shadows but now with the passage of
time the art form has become more elaborate and lively. The elaborate presentation of the
mythological characters created greater impact on the mind of the audience. The art of
Wayang became popular with the passage of time. The shadows depicted the characters as
enormous and magnificent. The UNESCO recognizes as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity, the art of Wayang. This art form has become an inseparable part of the
Indonesian community. The drama of Mahabharata and Ramayana continue in to be passed
on from generation to generation and have a large share of audience and liking in the country
of Indonesia. The characters of both these mythological plays are very appealing to the
audience and the masters of the art utilize their techniques to use them for audience
engagement. In present times, it is necessary for the masters of the art to look for techniques
to keep the audience indulged as drama is losing the mass appeal. Thus, it is necessary to use
proper techniques of art form to keep the art of shadow puppetry alive.
Indonesian Drama in Present Times
Presently, many traditional drama groups are facing economic crisis as the times have
changed. The continuation of drama requires proper management techniques that the
managers need to learn. The need of the hour is to understand the sentiments of public in
modern times, their mental state that is related to the advancements of the modern times. The
preferences of the audience should be kept in mind while executing and performing acts.
Proper management techniques to counter the financial crisis should be learnt for the
flourishing and growth of drama. Artists who are dedicated to the art of drama continue to
perform in theatres despite their groups suffering heavy losses. The dramas that were
performed commercially in the earlier times are now performed in schools and colleges in the
form of extra-curricular activities. Still, some groups collaborate with the governments at the
local level for performing in theatres during weekends for recreational purposes. The

11MODERN DRAMA IN INDONESIA
performances do not receive the needed support from the natives and the presence of the
audience is hardly noticed (Wardani & Widiyastuti, 2013).
Witnessing performances in theatres was considered a symbol of elite stature but the
present generation of Indonesia is more attracted towards movies and shows consisting of
low quality modern story line. Some people put the blame low quality movies that has
resulted in loss of respect for the national heroes amongst the youth of the country. The
young generation often resorts to bullying and mimicry of the heroic acts performed by the
heroes. The opinion of the young people is that theatres where dramas are performed are for
the older generations and the people who reside in villages.
There are people in the younger who perform in foreign countries for making the
Indonesian drama popular among the foreign audience. They advocate that the people of
Indonesia should promote their art form amongst the masses because it shows the rich
cultural heritage of Indonesia. The younger generation should witness the shows and actively
participate in the dramas that will inculcate in them their own cultural values. Dramas,
according to the elder generation is helpful in inculcating moral values amongst the younger
generations in a friendly manner (Saputra, 2013). Modern movies in their opinion are
baseless with no story line and often made for mere entertainment purposes without any
social and moral message. The loopholes in the storyline is tried to compensate by casting
actors with presentable looks who lack in acting skills. Modern parents are taking efforts to
promote national heroism in their children by taking them to theatres. The exposure children
receive while they witness dramas being performed on the stage leaves an impact on their
mind that helps in making them morally and culturally rich citizens. Being aware about one’s
national identity and heritage helps in the growth of respect for the national heroes. The
younger generation should be actively participate in performing arts that will prove to be
beneficial for the heritage of the country (Zaelani, 2018).