The Wonders of Indonesian Theatre

When people speak of Indonesian theatre performances, spectacles such as the ‘Wayang’ shadow puppets or traditional dances often come to mind. And while those are in fact Indonesia’s most famous forms of theatre performances, they’re certainly not the only ones. In fact, Indonesia holds a variety of different theatrical productions, ranging from musicals to masked dances. According to Britannica, most of the old Indonesian theatre forms are even directly linked to local literary traditions, whether they be oral or written. This evidently proves that Indonesian theatre has been passed down through centuries, from generation to generation. The art of Indonesians performing extravagant plays on public stages with a grand audience watching has been a traditional cultural art for a very long time, and it’s about time more people learn about it. 

To know more about Indonesian theatre, there has to be a general understanding of what theatre actually is. Theatre art, defined by the Elton B. Stephens Company (EBSCO), is a collaborative art form in which performers depict stories in front of a live audience. It is important not to mistake theatre for theater, which is a term used to describe the stage where theatrical performance occurs. The origins of theatre can actually be traced back to ancient ritualistic performances, formalized in Ancient Greece. Additionally, early forms of theatre emerged independently in traditions from both Western and Eastern parts of the world. Theatre art incorporates fundamental elements of a typical play, including acting, music, language, dance, etc., all with the purpose of contributing to the shared artistic experience. Theatre performances can happen in various settings, which emphasize interactions between the audience and the performers, usually accompanied by some form of improvisation from the theatre performers. When compared, Indonesian theatre is almost exactly like that in the East and the West. Though not as popular as its fellow countries, it still represents a symbol of culture and artistic talent. 

Indonesian theatre art is a diverse art form, encompassing a wide array of different, yet unique theatrical performances. The most notable form of Indonesian theatre is puppet theatre, or known as ‘Wayang’. Keeping it brief, wayang is a form of puppetry, oftentimes utilizing shadows, that comes in all artistic mediums. It can be made from leather, carved from wood, or even performed by professional actors. All forms of wayang often tell Hindu epic stories, such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. This art form is usually accompanied by traditional Indonesian music and instruments, more specifically, the gamelan, which is the Indonesian version of an orchestra. Wayang is so well known that it has even been internationally recognized as a piece of cultural heritage by major worldwide organizations, such as UNESCO. The next notorious form of Indonesian theatre is dance. Various regional dances across the country display cultures and ancient stories from each region in Indonesia by artistically performing traditional dances. Many of said dances even involve masks in their performances. This specific way of dance is known as ‘Tari Topeng’, or Mask Dance in English. Such dances that use masks are, for example, ‘Tari Topeng Cirebon’ from the region of Cirebon and ‘Tari Topeng Banjar’ from Kalimantan Selatan. Furthermore, other forms of Indonesian theatre include Randai, a narrative dance-drama musical from Minangkabau, West Sumatra; Ketoprak, a folk theatre performance with spoken dialogue and music performed by professionals, which is often seen in Central Java; and Lenong, an improvisational and comedic performance from Betawi culture. As previously stated, all of these traditions are heavily rooted in Indonesian culture and heritage, artistically blending storytelling, dance, and music together, with entertaining performances that can last the whole night. 

Theatrical performances in Indonesia have attracted the attention of foreigners and passing travellers for years now. Travel guidance platform Tripadvisor listed down the Kecak Fire Dance in the Balinese Uluwatu Temple as a prominent theatre show. Garnering hundreds of people to watch every night, it is the most popular traditional dance performance on the island, placed on a cliffside with a gorgeous sunset view from every seat in the audience during the dance. What makes this specific show unique is that, unlike other Indonesian theatrical art forms, it does not use musical instruments. Instead, kecak dance relies on the synchronized chanting from the performers. This results in a captivating and dramatic experience, as the audience is drawn into the story of the show deeper while the chanting progressively becomes more intense. Moreover, an important aspect of the dance is the utilization of fire, which is quite obvious from the name. In a climactic scene of the show, a performer will be set ablaze as part of the story. Stated by the official Uluwatu Temple website, the fire is meant to symbolic element that represents purification and divine power, which then creates an aesthetically pleasing moment, leaving the audience with their jaws on the ground. With the stunning fusion of spirituality, mythology, and Balinese cultural heritage, kecak dance is truly an unforgettable experience for everyone. 

Indonesian theatre is so flexible in terms of what one can perform. Not only is it a piece of cultural heritage that can tell epic stories of the past and Indonesian myth, but it can also act as a stage for entertainment. In recent years, more and more theatre production companies have started releasing musicals, stand-up comedy, etc. Though this is due to the swift modern changes and the revolutionary influence from Western theatre acts, it has brought on an even more positive light on the Indonesian theatrical arts. From only listening to reused excerpts from old books, people can now enjoy the theatrics of breathtaking performances. However, this is not meant to diminish the traditional Indonesian theatre productions, for they are still heavily popular amongst Indonesian society. Shows such as wayang kulit shows still gather tens and hundreds of people to view. It’s just that Indonesians now have the same opportunities as foreigners do and are able to witness incredible theatre productions, such as the ‘Sound of Music’ musical, or even shows based on local Indonesian life, like the ‘Laskar Pelangi’ musical drama. The point is that Indonesian theatre, though it still seems small in terms of popularity compared to its competition, is still an outstanding and remarkable art form that is constantly being regarded as a source of entertainment, education, and culture for everyone to watch. 

References 

Theater: Research Starters: EBSCO Research. EBSCO. (2024). https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/arts-and-entertainment/theater 

Indonesia - Theatre, Dance, Culture | Britannica. (n.d.-d). https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia/Theatre-and-dance 

Music and Theater in Indonesia: Music and Theater in Southeast Asia Class Notes. Music and Theater in Indonesia | Music and Theater in Southeast Asia Class Notes. (n.d.). https://fiveable.me/music-and-theater-in-southeast-asia/unit-2 

Grijns Cornells Dirk. Lenong in the environs of Jakarta : a report. In: Archipel, volume 12, 1976. pp. 175-202. 

SOLOK SELATAN TOURISM. (n.d.-e). https://tourism.solselkab.go.id/details/detil_budaya/6 

Ketoprak: The Traditional Javanese Performance Art that Reflects the Spirit of Struggle. infobudaya.net. (2025, April 20). https://www.infobudaya.net/2025/04/ketoprak-the-traditional-javanese-performance-art-that-reflects-the-spirit-of-struggle/ 

THE 15 BEST Indonesia Performances. (n.d.-f). https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294225-Activities-c58-t111-Indonesia.html 

Uluwatu Kecak Dance. Uluwatu Temple. (n.d.). https://uluwatutemple.id/uluwatu-kecak-dance