Rakaputra P.
Google
Gedung Wayang Orang Bharata is a theatre venue with a long history, having been founded in 1963. At the lobby you can see snippets of its history through old photos.
After a recent round of renovations in late 2022, the building gained a new and more modern facade, alongside a rejuvenated theatre space.
The new theatre is modern and slick, while keeping beautifully-made traditional Indonesian carvings on the frame of its proscenium. On one hand, it gives a certain unique flavor to the venue; but the persistent detail that frames the stage might make it a better fit cultural and traditional shows rather than contemporary ones.
It boasts a 12x10 meter stage and about 280 seats altogether. It's a relatively compact and intimate space. The audience can see the action happening on stage well-enough regardless of their seat. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for its accoustics; the sound system comes across as rather rudimentary and it requires a significant investment on the sound design to really bring out the best sound possible.
The lobby is rather small and left mostly untouched by the renovations. It's still pretty well-kept, but there's little space for the audience to wait for the theatre doors to open. Likewise, there is limited parking space.
After 50 years, Gedung Pertunjukan Wayang Orang Bharata is still a venue worth considering for theatrical productions, though it comes with its limitations.
