Solo, IO – Wayang is a traditional Javanese puppetry art that has various types, one of which is the wayang orang (human puppet). The city of Solo in Central Java has the Sriwedari wayang art which remains a famous tradition and art form up to the present day. This time the troupe presents the play titled “Naga Bandung” (the dragon of Bandung) at the Gedung Orang Sriwedari.
It features a play combined with the uniqueness of Javanese wayang performances. In contrast to wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), wayang orang features live human actors, with appearances and costumes that reflect the wayang characters. The actors play their roles with heavy makeup, adapting to the characters in the story.
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Wayang Orang Sriwedari, founded in 1911 by Solo cultural figures, began to gain popularity in 1922 through broadcasts on Solosche Radio Vereeniging. As the theater continued to expand, its capacity increased from 500 audience in 1928-30 to 1,000 in 1951, reflecting the growing enthusiasm of the public.
The show can be enjoyed regularly every day with various different plays scheduled every week with admission fee of Rp10,000 per person.
(IO/Faisal Ramadhan)