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Ngesti Pandawa is a professional wayang wong, or wayang orang, art company located in Semarang. The Ngesti Pandawa Wayang Orang is housed in the Ki Narto Sabdho Hall, in Taman Budaya Raden Saleh. It is also located in the Taman Raden Saleh Cultural Complex, at Jalan Sriwijaya 29, Semarang City, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Ngesti Pandawa is one of three surviving Wayang Orang groops in Indonesia, besides Wayang Orang Sriwedari, in Taman Sriwedari Solo, and Wayang Orang Bharata, in Jakarta.[1]
History
editNgesti Pandawa was founded in Madiun by Sastro Sabdo on July 1, 1937, with the aim of reviving the art of wayang orang panggung, a form of wayang play performed by human actors on a proscenium stage. Wayang orang panggung is a blend of court wayang orang (also called pendhapa wayang orang, as it was performed in the pendhapa— the spacious open hall of Javanese stately mansions— instead of on a stage) and Western theater.a The first wayang orang panggung troupe was established in 1895 by Gan Kan, a Chinese entrepreneur from Surakarta (Solo). The founding of Ngesti Pandawa's wayang orang performances was intended to preserve the art of wayang orang and inspire a love for traditional arts. The performances also provide entertainment to the public.b Sastro Sabdo's mission was supported by Sastro Sudirdjo, Narto Sabdo, Darso Sabdo, and Kusni.
Since its founding, Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandawa has been highly regarded by the public, not only by the Javanese but also by the Dutch and Chinese communities. From its early beginnings, Wayang Orang has been a performing art enjoyed by a diverse audience, both indigenous and non-indigenous.
Ngesti Pandawa has undergone a long historical journey in the city of Semarang. During this time, Ngesti Pandawa has had to relocate several times. In 1954, it moved to a new building in the Gedung Rakyat Indonesia Semarang (GRIS) complex at Jalan Pemuda 116, currently located at the Paragon City Mall Semarang. From the 1960s to the 1970s, under the leadership of Sastro Sabdo and Narto Sabdo, Ngesti Pandawa reached the peak of its popularity and became an icon of Semarang. It became a point of reference for other wayang orang groups during that era. Its theatrical scenery, musical accompaniment, costumes, choreography, and stage tricks were emulated by other wayang orang groups.c
The popularity of Ngesti Pandawa attracted the attention of President Sukarno. When Mount Merapi erupted in 1953, Ngesti Pandawa was called upon to raise funds for the victims. President Sukarno invited Ngesti Pandawa to perform at the Istana Merdeka (Merdeka Palace) in Jakarta and the Istana Negara (State Palace) in Bogor. This was a proud moment for Ngesti Pandawa. For a wayang orang company, being invited to perform at the State Palace is certainly a great honor.d Due to its achievements, Ngesti Pandawa was invited again in 1962 to the Presidential Palace to receive the Wijayakusuma Award from the President of the Republic of Indonesia.[2]
In 1994, the GRIS complex was sold by the local government to a third party. Ngesti Pandawa had no home anymore, and had to move to the Taman Raden Saleh Cultural Complex and was housed in a theater building for two years. In 1996 it moved to the Majapahit Amusement Park, and formed the Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandawa Foundation. In 2001 Ngesti Pandawa was again given the opportunity by the local government to use a hall at the Taman Raden Saleh cultural complex. Ngesti Pandawa reserves the right to use the hall every three days in a week, but regular performances are only staged on Saturday evenings starting at 8 pm.[3]
Current situation
editDespite challenges over the years, Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandawa continues to fulfill its mission of preserving Javanese culture and entertaining both the people of Semarang and tourists. The group performs every Saturday night, showcasing a variety of lakons (stories) from its extensive wayang repertoire. Social media platforms, such as ,Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and its own website, are utilized to engage both the local community and tourists.
In addition to its regular performances at the Raden Saleh Cultural Park in Semarang, Ngesti Pandawa has also performed in other cities such as Sukoharjo, Jepara, Solo, and Jakarta.[4][5][6] The group has also performed for specific audiences, including students and both government and private institutions, as part of its efforts to introduce wayang orang to a broader audience.[7]
Masdiana Safitri, the head of Semarang City's Culture and Tourism Office, has pledged to renovate the Ngesti Pandawa venue to enhance its appeal and comfort for visitors. The renovation is expected to help restore Ngesti Pandawa's former prominence as a cultural entertainment.[3]
Notes
edit- ^ "FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI LUNTURNYA KESENIAN TRADISIONAL SEMARANG" (PDF). Bappeda.semarangkota.go.id. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
- ^ "Peraturan Presiden Nomor 26 Tahun 1960". Peraturan.go.id. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
- ^ a b "Pemprov Didesak Bantu Ngesti Pandawa". Radarsemarang.com. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
- ^ "Hari Tani, Ngesti Pandawa Pentas "Boyongan" ke Sukoharjo | SuaraMerdeka.com". Archived from the original on 2017-04-16. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- ^ "Bupati Jepara Sambut Positif RTH Kreatif - Kabar Berita Jepara Terkini". Jeparahariini.com. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
- ^ "Primadona Ngesti Pandawa Tampil Memikat di WOSBI | SuaraMerdeka.com". Archived from the original on 2017-04-16. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- ^ "Ditonton Ratusan Pelajar, Ngesti Pandawa Pentas Maraton | SuaraMerdeka.com". Archived from the original on 2017-04-16. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
External links
edit- Perkumpulan Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandowo (1937-2001): Studi Tentang Manajemen Seni Pertunjukan
- Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandowo 2001-2015: Kajian tentang Manajemen Senin Pertunjukan
- Pola Pewarisan Pemain Wanita Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandawa Semarang
