Bima’s Spiritual Journey (ID)

Wayang Kulit, an Indonesian form of shadow puppetry holds the audience’s attention with riveting storylines executed masterfully by the dhalang, or puppeteer, who also leads the orchestra, usually called a gamelan, and normally delivers all the dialogue, as well as moving all the figures. Purbo Asmoro is one of the most popular and revered Javanese dhalangs of his era. He is in high demand as a performer across all of Indonesia, and has toured all over the world.

Bima’s Spiritual Journey is a Javanese tale over 500 years old, in which the strong, rugged, and loyal hero from the Indian Mahabharata, Bima, goes on a quest to understand the meaning of life and his place in the world as a warrior prince. Bima and his four brothers are known as the Pandhawa, and have been in a decades-long conflict with their cousins, the one-hundred Kurawa. This conflict is putting the world in danger and Bima strives to understand his place in forging peace. His spiritual teacher and guide, the sage known as Durna, sends him on a number of challenges. Each one is cloaked in riddles and mystery, but Bima emerges having met the most profound and philosophical nature of his own inner self. 

Purbo Asmoro retells this centuries-old favorite story in his own, unique and modern interpretative style, accompanied by the melodies of the Javanese gamelan ensemble, supporting the dramatic action in the most beautiful and compelling of ways at each moment in the performance. The simultaneous English translation will assist audiences in understanding this masterpiece.

Directed and performed by: Purbo Asmoro
Puppets and scenography: Purbo Asmoro
Musicians of the gamelan: Wakidi Dwidjomartono, Agus Prasetyo, Joko Dwi Suranto, Sukamto, Wegig Haryo Widagdo, Wejo Seno Yuli Nugroho, Nanik Dwi Widyaningrum, Kukuh Indrasmara, Dóra Györf
Simultaneous translation: Kathryn Emerson
Members of Surya Kencana A: Győrfi Dóra – pesindhen/ vocals, Győrfi Ágnes – bonang panerus, Szatai Márton – dhemung, Déry Ágoston – bonang, Szilágyi Péter – kenong, Wimmer Zsuzsanna – rebab, Soóki-Tóth Kristóf – saron, Biljarszki Dániel – vocals/ gerong, Cserne Kata – peking, Lipták Orsi – slenthem, Térfy András – saron, Vágó Nóra – kethuk

Recommended age: 14+
Duration: 90’
Language: javanese, with english surtitles