Puppet theatre was never solely meant for children. It has always been the theatre of the people.
Founded by Maria Tri Sulistyani or Ria in April 2006, Papermoon Puppet Theatre was initially created to address the lack of creative art mediums for children. Ria’s world has always been closely related to children. A former kindergarten teacher in Yogyakarta Indonesia, until today she writes and illustrates children’s books. But the deeper Ria dove into the world of puppetry, the more she found that it could be an effective communication medium for audiences of all ages, and the more she was able to explore her passion for fine art, performing arts and education. In 2008, the theatre company’s vision shifted to accommodate a wider audience. Papermoon Puppet began to address the adult demographic.
On an evening at the Usmar Ismail Hall, Jakarta, Papermoon performed Mwathirika, a puppet show which story is based on a 1965 tragedy – the year of the “cleansing” of the Indonesian communists which resulted in the killing of roughly 500,000 suspected communists throughout Indonesia. Using Bunraku-inspired puppets, Papermoon explored the impact of political violence on society through the story of a family struggling financially and emotionally after the death of the breadwinner, who was killed on suspicion of being part of a communist party.
The performance felt so intimate, despite the full house, as the narrative touched on very relatable themes while highlighting a larger issue. Instead of being controlled with sticks as wayang (traditional shadow puppets) or using strings as marionettes, the puppets were controlled by the hands of the puppeteers, creating the intimacy required for the telling of personal stories from the heart.
Mwathirika contained no dialogue – an initiative of Papermoon’s to communicate across language barriers, highlighting instead the use of music and the dramatic movements of the puppets to convey the story and the depths of the characters’ emotions.
Papermoon has performed different shows around the world, including Men of the Sea, as well as a comedy that tells the story of Sirduskarkus and the romantic Secangkir Kopi Dari Plaja (A Cup of Coffee from Plaja). The latter is a site-specific performance which still relates to the 1965 tragedy. The company has occasionally held exhibitions, too, and workshops for all ages.
Despite the contemporary feel in its artistic approach, Papermoon Puppet Theatre is not difficult to digest and it has succeeded in reaching a broad audience. It’s obviously one of Indonesia’s exemplary theatres for the people.
papermoonpuppet.com
