Bahasa | English
Her Team
Faiza Mardzoeki
Co- Founder and Director
Currently she is doing research and writing process on her newest play project namely The Silent Song of Kembang Genjer. The play will attempt to bring to life the experiences and thoughts of several women who were among the tens of thousands were arrested, imprisoned and then often tortured and sexually abused in prison during the years 1965-79.
Since 2003 she has divided her residence between Indonesia and Australia. Since 2002 till the present day, Faiza has initiated and produced eight theatre productions, some of which she wrote by herself. These include producing Perempuan di Titik Nol (2002, adaptation from the novel of Egyptian feminist Nawal El Saadawi, Women at Point Zero, producing and writing Nyai Ontosoroh (2007), adapted from Indonesia’s most influential novel, Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s This Earth of Mankind, co-wrote and co-produced Perempuan Menuntut Malam/Women Seize The Night, with Rieke Diah Pitaloka (2008), produced the abridged version of Henrik Ibsen’s Rumah Boneka (2010), and produced Surat-Surat Kartini, a theatre performance based on Kartini’s letters in the book Letters of a Javanese Princess. Throughout 2010-2011 Faiza successfully produced and wrote the abridged version of Nyai Ontosoroh, retitled “They Call Me Nyai Ontosoroh”, staged in Indonesia, (Bandung and Jakarta) and in Amsterdam and The Hague, in the Netherlands and in Antwerp, Belgium, courtesy of Tropentheater Amsterdam. In early 2011 Faiza completed the translation and adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House into the Indonesian language and context, and also produced it on stage in Jakarta (2011) and in Bandung (2012).
She has subsequently conducted a study tour in Norway to study Henrik Ibsen and his works, courtesy of the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta.
She is also invited to Women Playwright International Conference (August) 2012 in Stockholm to give a presentation on her newest play projects, such as The Silent Song of Kembang Genjer.
Faiza has a passionate love for the performing arts, especially theatre. When traveling, catching a performing arts production is on the top of her list. She has watched several Broadway and Off Broadway productions in New York, and observed a Norwegian theatre company prepare and stage a production. Other places where she has watched a performance includes Amsterdam, Berlin, Denmark, Singapore, and Australia. She is especially fond of international performing arts festivals with participants hailing from different parts of the world.
Faiza’s love for the art of theatre started in 1992 when she joined theatre rehearsals with Wiji Tukul (a missing poet who was kidnapped by the Orde Baru government) and factory workers. Several years later she rehearsed with Ratna Sarumpaet of Satu Merah Panggung in the 1996 production of Pesta Terakhir.
Faiza is convinced that theatre is a creative labor process that is capable of enlightening the actor and the audience with a new understanding of social issues and other problems of humanity.
Most of Faiza’s performing arts activities are motivated by her desire to speak up about women issues in Indonesia and raise society’s awareness and concern for them. In every opportunity, Faiza is prepared to collaborate with men and women, establishing better bargaining power for women, including in the world of art itself.
In addition to theatre, Faiza is also active in the womens’ movement. Between 1997 and 2002, she worked for Solidaritas Perempuan - Women's Solidarity for Human Rights. In 2002, she and several friends co-founded Institut Ungu, a feminist organisation that Faiza currently directs, promoting gender rights and equality through culture and arts. Through the Institut Ungu Faiza has initiated the Festival April, a women’s cultural art festival held in April, (2003, 2010) in conjunction with discussion activities.
Faiza has experienced many international forums of art and women, among others the Brecht Forum of New York (2008), Women Playwrights International Conference (2006), WCAR in Durban, South Africa (2000), Action Research Class in Chiang Mai, Thailand (2002), a two-month internship in a Philippine women’s organization (2000), and CARAM Asia in Malasyia (2000). In Australia Faiza participated in various seminars, including a research presentation of The Condition of Indonesian Migrant Workers Abroad by the Amnesty Internasional forum in Perth (2003), and initiated various cultural activities such as the Festival Film – Indonesian Films Corner – with Curtin University in Perth (2003)
In 2010 Faiza established Pentas Indonesia, a home for the performing arts, as an expression of her commitment to the performing arts, especially theatre.
For further information, visit www.faizafaiza.blogspost.com or www.institutungu.com
Activities
Festival April
RENDETION OF KARTINI'S LETTERS-19 April 2013
Jakarta
Theater Production
NYAI ONTOSOROH (2006-2007)--
Discussion/Seminar/Workshop
Notes from The 9th Women Playwrights International Conference--
Stockholm, 14-21 August 2012
