# Ngesti Pandawa

Ngesti Pandawa is a professional wayang wong, or wayang orang, art company located in Semarang. The Ngesti Pandawa Wayang Orang is housed in the Ki Narto Sabdho Hall, in Taman Budaya Raden Saleh (Raden Saleh Cultural Park), at Jalan Sriwijaya 29, Semarang, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Along with Wayang Orang Sriwedari in Taman Sriwedari Solo and Wayang Orang Bharata in Jakarta, Ngesti Pandawa is one of three surviving Wayang Orang groups in Indonesia.

## History

Ngesti Pandawa was founded in Madiun by Sastro Sabdo on July 1, 1937, to revive the art of wayang orang panggung, a form of wayang play performed by human actors on a proscenium stage. Wayang orang panggung blends court wayang orang (also called pendhapa wayang orang, as it was performed in the pendhapa— the spacious open hall of Javanese stately mansions— instead of on a stage) and Western theater. The first wayang orang panggung troupe was established in 1895 by Gan Kan, a Chinese entrepreneur from Surakarta (Solo). Ngesti Pandawa's performances were intended to preserve the art of wayang orang and inspire love for traditional arts, while also providing entertainment. Sastro Sabdo's mission was supported by Sastro Sudirdjo, Narto Sabdo, Darso Sabdo, and Kusni.
Since its founding, Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandawa has been enjoyed by diverse audiences, including Javanese, Dutch, and Chinese communities.
Ngesti Pandawa has relocated several times in Semarang. In 1954, it moved to a building in the Gedung Rakyat Indonesia Semarang (GRIS) complex at Jalan Pemuda 116, currently the site of Paragon City Mall Semarang. From the 1960s to the 1970s, under the leadership of Sastro Sabdo and Narto Sabdo, Ngesti Pandawa's popularity grew and it became well-known in Semarang. Its theatrical scenery, musical accompaniment, costumes, choreography, and stage tricks were emulated by other wayang orang groups.
The popularity of Ngesti Pandawa led to performances for President Sukarno. After the eruption of Mount Merapi in 1953, Ngesti Pandawa raised funds for the victims. President Sukarno invited Ngesti Pandawa to perform at the Istana Merdeka (Merdeka Palace) in Jakarta and the Istana Negara (State Palace) in Bogor. In 1962, Ngesti Pandawa received the Wijayakusuma Award from the President.
In 1994, the local government sold the GRIS complex. Ngesti Pandawa moved to the Taman Raden Saleh Cultural Complex for two years. In 1996 it moved to the Majapahit Amusement Park and formed the Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandawa Foundation. In 2001, the local government allowed Ngesti Pandawa to use a hall at the Taman Raden Saleh cultural complex. Ngesti Pandawa uses the hall three days a week, with regular performances on Saturday evenings starting at 8 pm.

## Current status

Wayang Orang Ngesti Pandawa continues to preserve Javanese culture and entertain audiences. The group performs every Saturday evening, showcasing stories from its repertoire. It uses social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and its own website, to engage with the community and tourists.
In addition to its regular performances in Semarang, Ngesti Pandawa has also performed in other cities such as Sukoharjo, Jepara, Solo, and Jakarta. The group also performs for students and institutions, to introduce wayang orang to a broader audience.
The head of Semarang City's Culture and Tourism Office, Masdiana Safitri, has pledged to renovate the Ngesti Pandawa venue to enhance its appeal and comfort for visitors, potentially restoring its prominence.