Nyi Mas Gandasari's story, Cirebon Women's Hero, is brought back to life on the theater stage.

JAKARTA - Indonesia has many historical stories and regional figures that are passed down from generation to generation through folklore to oral traditions.

In Cirebon, West Java, one of the figures who is often remembered is Nyi Mas Gandasari, a woman known to have played an important role in the history of the spread of Islam in the coastal areas of the north of Java Island.

Stories like these not only become part of the local cultural identity, but also become a source of inspiration for various performing arts works that seek to reintroduce historical heritage to current generations.

One of the efforts is realized through the staging of the musical drama "Sangkala Nyi Mas Gandasari" which will be held at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jakarta, on June 14, 2026. This performance re-raises the story of the heroism of women from Cirebon in the form of a musical theater that combines elements of tradition with a modern artistic approach.

Initiated by the Prima Ardian Tana Foundation, this staging is directed by Denny Malik with musical arrangements from Marthin Tupanno. The production presents a combination of dance, music, fashion, and stage visuals designed to present a performance experience close to today's audience without leaving the original story roots.

In the Cirebon chronicle, Nyi Mas Gandasari is known as an important figure in the era of Sunan Gunung Jati. His figure is said to have contributed to the spread of Islam and also became part of the history of the Cirebon Sultanate in the 15th century.

The founder of the Prima Ardian Tana Foundation, Hj. Nani Yurniati Taufik said that the reason for choosing to raise folk stories into a classy performance is to invite young Indonesians to love and appreciate their own country's culture.

The same thing was also expressed by Reny A Daniel as the Executive Producer of the musical drama "Sangkala Nyi Mas Gandasari".

According to him, the musical drama Nyi Mas Gandasari aims to raise the story of the heroism of women from Cirebon through an educational, entertaining, and cross-generational performance.

"The staging of Nyi Mas Gandasari combines cultural elements such as dance, music, fashion, and stage design that are packaged in a modern way. This is an effort to preserve the culture owned by Indonesia, as well as introducing it to the younger generation. Young people should be proud of Indonesian culture and art that is no less than products from abroad," said Reni in a press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 2.

Meanwhile, Denny Malik as the director of the musical drama "Sangkala Nyi Mas Gandasari" assessed that this performance is not only a space for artistic expression, but also an opportunity to show the richness of Indonesian culture through a more modern and relevant performance format.

There are many cultural elements that will be introduced to the younger generation, ranging from the royal costumes of the past, the typical Cirebon batik pamor, the typical local dialogue to the beautifully packaged traditional music arrangements.

"The potential culture that we have is not inferior. The challenge for the art people is how to make Indonesian performances perform with international standards," he explained.

In support of this concept, the production of the show utilizes various elements of modern stage technology, ranging from multimedia, artistic lighting, fog effects, hydraulic systems, to digital stage systems designed to strengthen the audience's visual experience.

A number of names are also involved in this staging, including Asri Welas who plays the role of Princess Ong Tien and Dewi Gita as Ibu Dayang.

For Asri Welas, his involvement in this production was a special experience because it marked his return to the musical theater stage after a long time.

"Preparation for the Nyi Mas Gandasari performance is very serious. It takes intensive training almost every day until the performance. Because in theater, the actors are required to master dialogue, vocals, choreography, and the ability to maintain energy when performing later," said Astri.

In addition, a number of young actors and actresses are also trusted to bring to life the important figures in this story, including Aisyah Fadhila as Nyi Mas Gandasari, Aldafi Adnan as Syech Magelung Sakti, Daniel Christianto as Sunan Gunung Jati, Belmiro Allie as Prince Cakrabuana, and Bima Zeno as Prabu Cakra Ningrat.

This performance also involves the Cirebon-based dance maestro, Elang Tomi Uli, as well as students of the MICE Study Program at the International Prima International Tourism Polytechnic in Cirebon as part of a collaboration between art and education actors.

The musical drama "Sangkala Nyi Mas Gandasari" will be performed in two sessions, namely 15.30-17.30 WIB and 19.30-21.30 WIB. Tickets for the show are available through an online platform with prices ranging from IDR 200,000 to IDR 700,000.