Betawi Troupe Reimagines Tradition with Modern Staging to Reach Younger Audience
- 20 Jun 2026 21:18 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Community arts troupe Oplet Robet is working to modernize Betawi performances while preserving their traditional cultural identity.
- Founder Ramdhani Qubil AJ, also known as Bang Qubil, aims to elevate Betawi arts through improved lighting, stage design, and production quality.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Betawi community troupe Oplet Robet is seeking to shake the stereotype of Betawi culture as old-fashioned. To do this, they are reworking traditional performances with modern staging and production while keeping their cultural roots intact.
Oplet Robet Founder, Ramdhani Qubil AJ, known as Bang Qubil, said the group aims to raise the artistic standard of Betawi performances through creative packaging and contemporary production values.
“We want Betawi art to move up a grade with lighting, artistry, and so on,” he said after a Lenong Kampung Te-Ko performance marking Jakarta’s 499th anniversary at Galeri Indonesia Kaya in Jakarta, on Saturday, 10 June 2026.
Bang Qubil stressed that tradition must evolve to stay relevant, but innovations should not erase the foundational cultural elements. “Art is not a holy book, it must develop, it must innovate. But we cannot throw away our roots, the Betawi cultural roots remain,” he said, as quoted by Antara.
He cited Gambang Kromong music, a core element of Betawi performance, as an example of something that must be preserved even when presented through a modern lens. Oplet Robet wants to demonstrate that Betawi culture can adapt to new technologies and contemporary audience expectations without losing its identity.
“Oplet Robet’s dream is to make Betawi performances, if possible, five-dimensional. So people also know that Betawi can develop and follow the times,” said Bang Qubil.
As part of this push, Oplet Robet plans a solo production in October at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, promising a more polished artistic and stage design. The troupe hopes these innovations will motivate the public, especially younger generations, to better recognize and appreciate Betawi culture.
“Don’t call Betawi old-fashioned. Betawi can also develop, can follow the times without forgetting its cultural roots,” said Bang Qubil. ***
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