TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Under the command of Harris Priadie Bah, two students of London School Public Relation successfully performed the theatrical play Big City which was held at the Prof Djajusman Auditorium of the school. Harris is the leader of theartrical group Teater Kami who is also a lecturer of Performing Art Communication Studies of the school.

The play, which was the end-of-semester assignment for the students, looked just like performance by professionals. Groups of students, each consisted of 20 to 25 students, were competing each other in a theatre festival that was judged by three juries. One of the jury was the national humanist Arswendo Atmowiloto.

The assignment has required the student to prepare the whole things of the play, starting from pre-production up to the post-production, all in a month.

The Dean of Performing Art Communication Studies, Renata Tirta Kurniawan, said that the theatrical festival has been held since 2005. Initially, each performance was scheduled for only 30 minute with budget not more than Rp1.5 million. However, as time goes by, each play now running for 60 to 90 minutes averagely with budget up to Rp25 million. For the note, the students had to manage to collect the money from sponsors or donations for the play, they also managed the ticketing and backdrop designs.

During the first and second years of the festival, up to 20 performances could be held in a day. Since the third year, the festival was held twice in a year with only two performances in a day. The festival has entered its 13^th year this year.

Among other changes made since the third festival, the students had been required to use English on the dialogue during the play. Renata said that the school wants its students to speak fluent English.

DIAN YULIASTUTI