Prehistoric Body Theater’s second mainstage performance "A Song for Sangiran 17,” is a work in honor of the ancient Homo erectus peoples who lived in Java one million years ago, known from the Sangiran fossil site just 30 minutes north of Prehistoric Body Theater’s “Nest” basecamp house. Sangiran 17 is the most complete skull found at the site, and from this fossil we can reconstruct their face and brain case. Homo erectus is the trans

“A Song for Sangiran 17” was first commissioned by curator by Melato Suryodarmo for Indonesia Bertutur Festival, and was performed on September 8, 2022, on a constructed stage at Borobudur Temple, Central Java, Indonesia.

To create the work, we spent two months in process with the Sangiran Museum science educators, with the local grandfathers who found the fossil skulls, meditated at the sites where the skulls were found, and spent intensive time in the jungles of Java simulating living as Homo erectus for 24 periods. Science was woven with dreams and raw experience of body in nature. The first iteration of the work was performed on September 8, 2022 at Indonesia Bertutur Festival

Artistic Director: Ari Dharminalan Rudenko
General Manager: Suntoro Aji Nugroho
Performers + Co-Creators: Alan Iloen, Arya Zahi, Bagus Pulung Tilamas, Boy Mahmudi, Eti Purnama Sari, Eka Lutfi Febriyantono, Nada Soraya, Sofyan Joyo Utomo, Sri Cicik Handayani, Tirta Nopa Tarani, Widi Clepret
Composer: Iwan Karak, Elia Wisman
Lighting: Yunianto "Yonex" Dwi Nugroho
Production Team: Basuki Setiyawan, Mas Dani, Mas Depe
Crew: Arif Pambudi, Wahyu Darmawan
Documentation: Adi Risky, Denri Nurachman, Dwi Naryoko Putra, Rakha Yoni Suharto, Adith Ath-Thaariq
Special thanks to: Melati Suryodarmo, Indonesia Bertutur, Kemdikbud Indonesia, Balai Pelestarian Situs Manusia Purba Sangiran