Sandiwara

Sandiwara

playing Sakuntala circa 1920
Native name	ꦭꦏꦺꦴꦤ꧀ (Javanese) ᮞᮔ᮪ᮓᮤᮝᮛ (Sundanese) Seni Sandiwara (Indonesian)
Instrument(s)	Gamelan, Kendhang, Suling
Origin	Indonesia

Sandiwara (Indonesian term for: "drama") is a genre of traditional theatrical drama of Indonesia. In general, it refers to any kind of drama or theatrical performance, and literally, sandiwara means "to pretend" or "to act". However, the term is often used to describe a genre of traditional drama of West Java. Sandiwara Sunda is a type of sandiwara performed in Sundanese and presenting Sundanese themes, folklores and stories. It is quite similar to Javanese ketoprak or wayang orang.

Today, this traditional drama has become less popular. Many sandiwara troupes are struggling to survive, including the once famous Sandiwara Miss Tjitjih.^[1]