Kamadjaja migrated to the theatre in 1943, joining Andjar Asmara and Andjar's wife Ratna in establishing the Tjahaja Timoer theatrical troupe. The troupe, whose actors were mostly youths, toured throughout Java. Before the occupation ended in 1945, Kamadjaja has written several stage plays, including "Diponegoro" (1943), "Solo Diwaktu Malam" ('Solo at Night', 1943), "Kupu-Kupu" ('Butterflies', 1944), and "Miss Neng" (1944, a sequel to "Solo Diwaktu Malam"). He also adapted the Chinese legend "Butterfly Lovers" as "Sam Pik Eng Tay" (1944). On 23 August 1945, a week after Sukarno proclaimed the independence of Indonesia, Tjahaja Timoer was disbanded.