Jakarta. The 2025 Festival Teater Indonesia recently wrapped up its show in four cities, with Jakarta being the last stop.

On Dec. 14-16, five theatrical groups and individual artists from across the archipelago came up on stage at Jakarta's Taman Ismail Marzuki. The event became a melting pot for Indonesian actors and theater enthusiasts. The festival had held shows in Medan, Palu, and Mataram prior to its Jakarta stop. Arts organization Titimangsa and the Indonesian Theater Association Penastri partnered to hold the festival with the support of the Cultural Ministry.

“I hope that this festival will not only open up a space for different cultural and literary, but also a space for people from across the country to open up and adapt with one another. Because every region has its own customs. Even though we are of different backgrounds, ages, and interests, the stage can unite us all,” Happy Salma, founder of the Festival Teater Indonesia, said.

Cultural Minister Fadli Zon said that the event aligned with what the government had been pushing for, including by strengthening the literary ecosystem as it transfers Indonesian literary works onto the stage.

“Festival Teater Indonesia brings together new faces of Indonesian theater and it prepares future talents. … It also provides equal access as the show is present in Medan, Palu, Mataram and Jakarta, while also involving 20 theater groups. With this, we can make sure that theatrical plays are not only available in certain major cities,” Fadli said.

Some of the plays performed at Jakarta’s edition of the Festival Teater Indonesia included “Burung Manyar Kita” by Bengkel Seni Embun from Ambon, inspired by Y B Mangunwijaya’s work of the same name. Andi Bahar Merdhu also performed the theatrical adaptation of Putu Wijaya’s short story “Roh”. The 2025 Festival Teater Indonesia also gave lifetime awards for people who had largely contributed to the country’s performing arts.

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