Indonesian Literature Students of Udayana University Stage Drama Performance: A Project-Based Final Exam for the Indonesian Drama Studies Course

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• Kamis, 19 Juni 2025
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Denpasar – Fourth-semester students of the Indonesian Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Udayana University, held a drama performance as part of their final project-based exam for the Telaah Drama Indonesia(Indonesian Drama Studies) course. The performances took place over two days, with different lineups. Students from Class A performed on Thursday (June 19, 2025), while Class B performed on Friday (June 20, 2025), at the Widya Sabha Mandala Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Udayana University. This course, taught by Jalu Norva Illa Putra, S.S., M.A., and Eirenne Pridari Sinsya Dewi, S.S., M.Ed., is designed to enhance students' understanding of dramatic works through performance practice.

The performances by Class A students on Thursday started at 1:00 PM (Central Indonesian Time) and featured three different plays performed in rotation. The first play, Wek-Wek, is an adaptation of works by Iwan Simatupang and Anton Chekhov. This satirical comedy uses humor, irony, and absurd character behavior to criticize social realities.

The second play, Srikandi Edian, is adapted from a script by Sang Aru (Hardjono Wiryosoestrino). It revives the character Srikandi from traditional wayang stories and places her in a contemporary setting, portraying her determination and perseverance in seeking knowledge.

The third play, Perempuan Salah Langkah, adapted from a script by Wisran Hadi, delivers a strong moral message. This satirical drama critiques misguided women’s movements that, instead of liberating women, end up reinforcing new myths.

The following day, Class B students performed two plays starting at 2:00 PM. Though different in tone and theme, both plays delivered strong messages through powerful staging. The first performance was an adaptation of Orang Kasar by Anton Chekhov, adapted by WS Rendra. This rendition added a local and psychological touch, exploring human relationships under tense circumstances through social and emotional conflict with a comedic nuance.

The second performance was an adaptation of Operasi by Putu Wijaya. True to the playwright’s absurdist style, the performance portrayed a complex and confusing social situation, culminating in a plot twist at the end.

Prior to the performances, students conducted script analyses and examined each part of the selected plays. This textual study was carried out from the beginning to the middle of the semester. During the second half, students adapted and rehearsed the plays, tailoring them to their group’s characteristics. This performance project was not only an academic evaluation but also a platform to strengthen their appreciation, analysis, and creative expression in drama.

This activity demonstrated that a project-based approach can enhance students' active engagement in understanding and interpreting literary works—especially in the dramatic genre.