- In a Jakarta theater, vibrant music filled the air.
- The best part is that there was no one singing.
- Screens displayed lyrics, and actors used facial expressions.
In a Jakarta theater, vibrant music filled the air as a group of young artists danced in a colorful musical, but there was something unique—no one was singing.
The theatre troupe Fantasi Tuli (Deaf Fantasy) was putting on Indonesia’s first musical featuring primarily deaf artists and crew. To ensure everyone understood, screens displayed the dialogue and lyrics as the actors expressed themselves through facial expressions and sign language.
The musical, titled “Senandung Senyap” (Songs of Silence), tells the story of students at a middle school for children with disabilities. Directors Hasna Mufidah and Helga Theresia created the show to raise awareness and promote sign language. Mufidah, who is deaf, expressed her hope: “My hope is, going forward, inclusivity can be strengthened, that between deaf and hearing people, hearing is not superior – we’re equal.”
Featuring over 60 deaf actors and crew members aged 16 to 40, the production took three months to prepare and drew inspiration from Deaf West Theatre in the United States. The performance highlights issues in special-needs education in Indonesia, where deaf students often focus more on speech training than on sign language.
Deaf actor Hanna Aretha Oktavia shared her experience, saying, “What’s interesting is in rehearsals we have to feel the tempo and vibrations and match them with the choreography.” With more than 2 million people in Indonesia living with hearing disabilities, this musical aims to foster understanding and connection in the community.
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