Indonesia Brings Two Contemporary Theater Works To Venice

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia will showcase two contemporary theater productions at the 54th International Theatre Festival of La Biennale di Venezia, scheduled to take place in Venice, Italy, from June 16 to 19, 2026. The productions, Under the Volcano and Hikayat Perahu/The Tale of Boat, were selected through a curatorial process led by festival director Willem Dafoe.

Produced by Bumi Purnati Indonesia, the two performances draw inspiration from the cultural heritage of Sumatra. Both works blend theater, dance, music, and traditional narratives with contemporary stage interpretation.

Under the Volcano, directed by Yusril Katil, is inspired by Syair Lampung Karam, a literary work recounting the devastating eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. The production explores themes of disaster, collective trauma, resilience, and recovery through movement-based storytelling.

Meanwhile, Hikayat Perahu/The Tale of Boat, directed by Sri Qadariatin, reinterprets Syair Perahu by 16th-century Sufi poet Hamzah Fansuri. The performance portrays a spiritual journey of self-discovery through the metaphor of a boat navigating the ocean of life.

Ahead of their departure to Italy, both productions were presented during a dress rehearsal at the Center for Arts and Cultural Training (PPSB) in Central Jakarta on June 9, 2026. The event offered audiences and cultural stakeholders a preview of the works that will represent Indonesia on the international stage.

Director of Visual Arts and Performing Arts at Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy, Dadam Mahdar, in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, said the participation could open new opportunities for the country’s creative sector. He noted that international exposure may help Indonesian performing artists expand their reach beyond domestic audiences.

“Especially if, in the future, the requests for these performances come from overseas—as is the case with Italy now we hope there will be repeat orders from abroad. That would be a form of export,” Dadam said. He added that maintaining high artistic standards and attracting investment would be important to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.

The two productions will be staged alongside works by artists from around the world during the Venice festival. Indonesian officials hope the performances will not only promote the nation’s cultural heritage but also strengthen the global profile of its creative economy through international collaborations and future touring opportunities.