Ade Mardiyati

The Jakarta Players pose for a picture on Drama Night; members of the group in their production of “Godspell.” (Photo: Ade Mardiyati, JG)

Jakarta Actors Combine Work and Plays

For more than four decades, a community of Indonesians and expatriates has been getting together to dig out their hidden acting talents. Jakarta Players, as the group is called, has 333 members and has performed famous plays, including “The Dining Room,” “Godspell” and “Murder on the Midway.”

Andrew Trigg, president of Jakarta Players, said he wasn’t entirely sure how the group began, but it was 41 years ago.

“Back in the 1960s there was much less entertainment than today and not many entertainment options for expatriates in Jakarta,” he said.

Although Jakarta Players has hundreds of members, far fewer are active in the group, said Andrew, who is from the United Kingdom and has lived in Indonesia for 20 years.

“Expats arrive and leave, new people come in, and it’s always been like that,” said Andrew, the director of management consulting company SolutionWorks. “It was probably much bigger in the past than it is now. Today, we have to compete with cinemas, karaoke and malls to attract people to come for entertainment.

“But we have board meetings every month. We make plans for annual shows. We select plays, conduct auditions, sell tickets. The active members are also involved in the productions.”

The group, whose members share an interest in English-language drama and theater, gathers the first Friday of each month for a Drama Night, during which participants perform short plays, fairy-tale improvisations and play games. The session is also a chance to attract new members.

“Friends tell their friends about this group, and they come. We welcome everyone,” said Andrew’s wife, Marissa, the membership coordinator and a Metro TV presenter. “We go out of our way to make people feel at home, especially new members.”

Newcomers are welcome to get up on stage and perform, Andrew said. “We never force people, though. If they don’t want to, they can just sit and watch others performing.”

Last month’s Drama Night was a particular success, as several people new to the group took to the stage to perform a courtroom scene.

“And they didn’t seem to be nervous or awkward. [Their acting] was fantastic!” Marissa said.

The Jakarta Players’s members come from all walks of life and from many different nations.

“Unlike other organizations in Jakarta defined by their nationalities, we are defined by a common love of drama,” Andrew said. “I think that is pretty much what draws people to join.”

Marissa said the Jakarta Players included embassy staff members, teachers, international school students and more. “It is definitely a melting pot.”

Ferdina Siregar, or Dina, works as a compliance manager for an insurance brokerage and joined the group in October.

“My friend told me about this and I wanted to come,” she said.

October’s Drama Night was her first experience with the group and she happily took part in a game. “I played the ‘Helping Hands’ game with my friend in front of other members. I wasn’t nervous at all,” she said, referring to an improv game many people know from the TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

“People laughed and that was awesome for me. I just loved it and want to come to Drama Night regularly.”

Another member, Yuventius Nurman, known as Yuven, joined the group in March this year and has already been involved in a production.

“I was in a play called ‘Assorted Nuts,’ ” said Yuven, a consultant for the provincial government of Yogyakarta. “Most of us live a high-paced life. So I thought this would be a great chance to meet new people and to speak English at the same time.”

Jakarta Players’ youngest member, Belinda Betz, said that her parents had dragged her to the group a few years ago.

“They did that to keep me out of trouble, you know, typical teenager,” the 16-year-old German national said with a laugh.

Betz auditioned for a role three years ago but was not successful.

“I wanted a role as a fat woman but didn’t get the part because they said that I wasn’t fat,” she said.

When she finally got a chance to act on stage, she was nervous.

“But I trusted the actors I was on the stage with. I think I am improving,” she said. “And what is more important, it has always been really great and nice to be in this group.”

Both Andrew and Marissa said “The Dining Room” was one of their most successful productions.

“There was only one set,” Marissa said, “and we had only six actors for the play, but they played 52 characters. And I think it was really great.”

The group has planned their next major production for early 2010, Andrew said. The costs of productions are mainly covered by the group, although they now have a sponsor to assist. Ticket sales also help allay costs.

“But the tickets are cheap, they range between Rp 50,000 and Rp 100,000 [$5.25 to $10.50],” Andrew said. “And the profits from the sales of tickets always go to charity.”

Most members feel they benefit from being part of Jakarta Players.

“It gives me an option for having fun,” new member Dina said. “It’s a totally good way to have a great time!”

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