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2023/05/16
Bringing the magic of Indonesia to Katara Qatar, a special opening night will be held on 22nd May for invited guests, VIPs and important dignitaries. This will be followed by two shows for members of the public on 23rd and 24th May, with tickets available now.
Director Rama Soeprapto and his theatre company have developed an immersive musical, telling stories from Indonesia's rich cultural heritage through song, dance, masks and sumptuous traditional crafts.
The creative team from Indonesia includes Assistant Director and Scriptwriter Titien Wattimena, Artistic Director Iskandar K. Loedin, Producer Bayu Pontiagust and Music Director Gunarto. The costumes have been designed by Era Soekamto, a renowned batik and kebaya fashion designer.
“Hayati: Panji Searching for the Essence of Love” is about the hero, Panji’s search for the meaning of life, facing numerous trials and challenges in order to understand the nature of human goodness. The main roles of Panji and Sekartaji will be played by celebrated Indonesian performers Achmad Dipoyono and Kadek Dewi Aryani.
Traditionally performed as Wayang (shadow puppet) plays, the beloved Panji and Sekartaji stories originated during the 12th century in the East Javanese courts and have since been adapted, shared and enjoyed across Indonesia.
These are some of the oldest and most treasured stories from Indonesia, which have been given a special status as part of the world’s intangible heritage by UNESCO and formed part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme in 2017.
HAYATI will undoubtedly be a visually stunning experience, sharing the rich culture of Indonesia with the people of Qatar to launch the 2023 Year of Culture in style. After months of anticipation and rehearsals, the theatrical production will debut in the opulent setting of Katara Opera House.
Set in the impressive Katara Cultural Village, the Katara Opera House is a unique performing arts space in Qatar. Some of the world’s best musicians have graced the stage. Katara Opera House is home to the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and also regularly hosts visiting international artists from around the world. The elegant space combines traditional Islamic design with contemporary architecture and can seat up to 550 guests, with a royal terrace and VIP areas for important guests.
The vision for Katara Doha is to be a world-leading hub for multi-cultural activities, showcasing the traditions and cultural heritage of Qatar alongside cultures from around the world.
With performing arts venues, art galleries and even an impressive outdoor amphitheatre, Katara village hosts exhibitions, musical and dramatic performances, international and local festivals, conventions, workshops and so much more.
Doha’s Katara Village is the ideal setting for such a unique event, with something for all the family, before and after the show. Katara is home to world-class restaurants, shopping, a cinema and attractions from museums to a planetarium.
Katara's location between the sea and the Katara Hills means plenty of options for enjoying a stroll before or after the show too. There are also many impressive public artworks to be found at Katara, from Qatar’s world-leading collection.
Did you Know? “Catara” was the first documented name given to the Qatar Peninsula, featuring on maps dating back to 150AD. Over the years this eventually became “Katara” in the 1700s, and was chosen as the perfect name for the new Katara Cultural Village, upholding modern Doha’s connection to Qatari history at the Katara location.
The Years of Culture team can’t wait to welcome the creative team and cast to Katara village, and for audiences in Qatar to experience the best of Indonesian storytelling and performing arts during HAYATI: Panji Searching for the Essence of Love. We hope that you enjoy the show!
