Indonesia: Modern version of Traditional Balinese Theatre

During the summer of 2014, I travelled to Bali, Indonesia with my family. Before visiting Bali, I read and studied a bit of Balinese Theatre in my university teaching so I was very excited to watch authentic Balinese Theatre in Bali. However, after talking to the local Balinese people, I came to realise that it was difficult to find authentic or non-touristy adaptations of Balinese Theatre. It was also difficult to fit a Balinese show into my packed travelling schedule. 

Luckily, on the last day of my visit in Bali, I was able to fulfil this wish of mine. I watched a short snippet of Balinese traditional theatre in Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a private cultural park on the Bukit Peninsula at the southern end of the island. Although the performance was modernised and adapted for tourist flavour, I was able to get a feel of what traditional Balinese theatre would be like if it were performed properly. I loved the vibrant colours of the costumes, especially the colourful makeup on the ladies. Many of the masks  the actors wore were inspired and personifications of animals such as hogs and monkeys.  Although this performance I watched was tailored for tourists, the performance was very pleasurable and I enjoyed watching the precise dance routines that the performers executed superbly.