Drama “Ibu” as Final Assignment: Indonesian Language and Literature Students Collaborate with PGPAUD and Japanese Language Education Students Successfully Hit the Stage!”

Wantilan Truna Jaya, 7 to 9 July 2023 –“Creating a work about the persistent figure of a mother”. That was what was raised in a drama performance performed by 4th-semester students of the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Study Program in collaboration with 6th-semester students from across the PGPAUD study program and the Japanese Language Education Study Program. Right on the first Sunday of July, the Drama course taught by I Wayan Artika S.Pd., M.Pd. is a final semester exam that students prepare carefully in front of the public. With preparation and awareness to be able to show their best, students worked together and embraced sharing tasks to make the event a success, even though some were assigned as actors. The performance, which lasted for three days, was like hitting the Wantilan Truna Jaya stage by bringing back literary memories in role-playing.

The performance which took place for three consecutive days starting at 19.30 WITA received quite an appreciation from I Wayan Artika (lecturer in the Drama course). Public performance of drama is the final assignment of the Drama course in semester 4, Indonesian Language and Literature Education Study Program. This performance lasted for three days which included performances from different classes and different groups each day. The first day, on Friday, July 7, 2023, was filled with drama performances by both groups in class 4A. Then, the second and final day on Sunday, July 9 2023 was filled with performances by the two groups from class 4B. Each group consists of 12 – 17 students. The three-day performance received a lot of positive attention from several students, especially FBS students, as well as students from the second semester of the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Study Program.

The first day’s event hosted by Mang Adi and Firda (2/PBSI) went smoothly. The flashing lights and loudspeakers managed to hit the Teruna Jaya Wantilan stage. How could it not be, that the performance presented by two groups, namely the odd group and the even group, succeeded in making the audience unable to move from their seats? Two drama titles, namely “Rantau” and “Best Farmer” accompany Friday nights and seem to woo memories of playing roles back at FBS.

The drama performances on the second and third days were no less enjoyable. Packaged simply, without guidance from performers, class B can still show a better drama. With support sound as well as lighting and strong makeup. Two dramas “Saturday Night with Mother” and “Hyang Ibu”, an adaptation of Made Adnyana Ole’s short story were successfully performed. Even though the two classes performed on different days, their passion and dedication brought the audience together for a truly extraordinary experience. One of the groups named their group as Midnight Theatre, this was unique and received appreciation for the choice of this name. The four titles presented by each group contain deep plots and messages about the struggle of a mother.

Drama performances resulting from collaboration with students from across study programs from PGPAUD and PBJ are not written without reason, but students are required to develop dramas based on the stories of several literary works about “Mother”. Some of these literary works include Mother’s Song by Iwan Fals, Our Mother’s Song Kartini, Mother Earth, the short story Mother by Made Adnyana Ole, and many more. This is an interesting experience for students across study programs in learning the process of creating drama ideas which can start from the representation of literary works (music, poetry, short stories, novels). Literary works that were taken to sweeten each scene made it into the story. This drama performance can become a performance with a unique packaging through the combination and adaptation of values ??from a literary work.

The atmosphere of the lower campus which is decorated with lights on every concrete seat makes the Truna Jaya Wantilan stage the focus of the performance. Accompanied by a gust of cool wind, the opening by the MC called the boarding house residents and the entire FBS contents gathered to the field. Unfortunately, not many people witnessed it that night. The drizzling rain in the afternoon made the concrete table reluctant to sit. However, the drama night felt even stronger for those who enjoy literature and performances. Also present were Mr. Wayan Artika’s colleagues, namely Indonesian language teachers from middle/high schools in the Singaraja area who also enjoyed the evening performance at that time. It is hoped that watching the PBSI student drama performance, it can become a discussion space and reference for drama learning for students at school by the teachers present.

This is different from active big performances which are attended by many invitees and spectators. This performance took place simply, without any special invitation, except for the distribution of pamphlets via digital media with the invitation “everyone is invited”. Good preparations for sound, lighting, clothing, property, and make-up are all done by students from the finances of each class.

Rosita as the coordinator of class 4A revealed that preparations to be able to present the drama entitled “The Best Farmer” with a duration of approximately 40 minutes took about a week. He also added that he hopes that this drama performance can increase students’ interest in exploring more deeply about drama. Not just knowing about drama, but exploring and finding out more deeply, about how to create and stage a drama well.

Looking further outside of the performance, it seems that the participation of PGPAUD and PBJ students during lectures gives a distinct impression of the PBSI study program. Indana, one of the 6th-semester students from the PGPAUD study program also expressed her impressions. “Drama is a cross-study course that often clashes with study program subjects, so permission is often required if you cannot move to another time. He expressed this in a personal interview after the show. When asked about his impressions during the final assignment performance, he stated that, although the preparation time was quite short, all the friends who participated were able to work together, so on D-day, they could perform with their best effort. Friends from the PBSI study program are also kind, friendly, creative, etc. “This makes us students from the PGPAUD and PBJ study programs feel comfortable and happy,” he concluded.

Per the Tri Hita Karana philosophy which is the basis for realizing Undiksha’s vision, it is hoped that with collaboration between study programs in their work, strong synergy can create extraordinary results, and make a positive contribution to society and the surrounding environment in terms of literature. This small performance, which is only an assessment for the final assignment of a drama course, if given serious attention, is hoped to become an interesting activity in rebuilding literary memories in the academic world. (dya)