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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.
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.
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.
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“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.
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.
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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.
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.
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