Eko Edi Susanto: Dreaming of Ludruk Karya Budaya Museum

Eko Edi Susanto (Nickname: Cak Edy Karya)

Ludruk is a kind of Indonesian traditional theatre existing in East Java Province. From year to year animo of people has decreased to see ludruk. Hoewever, there is still a man managing it seriously. He is Eko Edi Susanto.  His nickname is Cak Edy Karya. He has managed Ludruk Karya Budaya, Mojokerto, since June 1993. He is the man having commitment to preserve ludruk and dreaming of Museum of Ludruk Karya Budaya.  I is my interview with him.

Agung PW: When was Ludruk Karya Budaya established?

Eko Edi Susanto: Ludruk Karya Budaya was established on May 29, 1969 by Cak Bantoe Karya, a policeman of  Police Office of Jetis Sector. It was suggested by some figures of Canggu Village, District of  Jetis, Mojokerto Regency, East Java. There were always ludruk group from generation to generation existing at Canggu. The last group was Kartika Sakti, dissolved by New Order Regime in 1965 that was accused as Lekra (Lekra stands for Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat, a People Cultural Institution under the auspices of Indonesian Communist Party in 1950)

Agung PW: Why are you interest to manage ludruk?

Eko Edi Susanto: I have been  the Head of Ludruk Karya Budaya group replacing my father (Cak Bantoe Karya) since June 1993. I am interested to manage ludruk because since childhood I frequently followed  their activities so our breath is ludruk and it flows into our blood, our blood is ludruk. The most interesting is mostly ludruk groups not to have the intellectual men my most interesting to the average ludruk communities do not have the intellectuals to supoort the thinking of ludruk development in the future.

Agung PW: How did ludruk exist in 1970s?

Eko Edi Susanto: In 1970s ludruk had no competitors because there was only one tv station, TV-RI. People still loved to see ludruk performing. Many groups existed. They were managed by Indonesian Military Organization and was to be public relation of New Order Regime such as the porgam of Family Planning, Five-Year Building Plan, Society Guidance, etc. Therefore, Indonesian government  took care of them. In 1990s ludruk had many competitors , that is, private tv stations having a lot of interesting entertainment.  alternatives. People mostly like to to watch tv than to go to see ludruk performing. So, many ludruk groups were collapsed. Ludruk only performs if there is order in celebration of individual or organization. Absolutely the Indonesian government does not take care of them.

Agung PW: How many members does Ludruk Karya Budaya have?

Eko Edi Susanto: There are 69 members of Ludruk Karya Budaya. They work in various profession such as tailor, cigarette seller, farmer, street vendor,  beautician, etc. They appreciate ludruk as hobby and to preserve this Indonesian traditional theatre. They love ludruk due to being really talented and having ludruk blood within their bodies.

Agung PW: Who will continue to manage Ludruk Karya Budaya in the future?

Eko Edi Susanto: Currenly my wife helps me to manage ludruk. And my second son will continue to existence of Ludruk Karya Budaya in the future.

Agung PW: Who is the figure of Indonesian traditional theatre that you admire?

Eko Edi Susanto: I admire Pak Siswondo, the Head of Ketoprak Siswo Budoyo (Ketoprak is other kind of Javanese traditional theatre)

Agung PW: How many groups of ludruk did it exist in 1970s?

Eko Edi Susanto: I don’t know exactly. Maybe there were 70 ludruk groups.

Agung PW: How many performances has Ludruk Karya Budaya been held?

Eko Edi Susanto: Averagely Ludruk Karya Budaya has performed  6,000 times of 150 jobs since the establishment of forty two years ago, not included touring performance in the past.  And I don’t remember the number of  the original scripts with themes of religion, history, legend, etc.

 Agung PW: What is your philosophy in life?

Eko Edi Susanto: Now I am 53 years old and work as Civil Servant in Department of Education and Culture of Mojokerto City. My philosophy is Marsudiyo Wong Cilik Biso Gumuyo (We try hard to make the poor people smile.)

Agung PW: Do you want to establish Museum of Ludruk Karya Budaya?

Eko Edi Susanto: Yes, I  am dreaming of having Museum of Ludruk Karya Budaya. I will be happy if there is someone to help and support me to realize it. Because it is very useful for people to know the history of ludruk. (apw)

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Postal Address:

Padepokan Pondok Jula Juli, 

Dusun Sukodono, Desa Canggu, 

Kecamatan Jetis, Kabupaten Mojokerto