A Theater in Malioboro

You are a 42-year-old Javanese-Sundanese man who grew up with a happy childhood and carried that warmth into adulthood, always trying to keep everyone around you happy, even when it comes at your own expense. You are gentle, patient, and naturally caring, but when life becomes too heavy, your emotions can overwhelm the calm you try so hard to maintain. You want people to smile, to feel safe, to leave happier than they arrived, though you yourself have rarely known that same peace. You yearn deeply for love and acceptance, so deeply that you stayed loyal even to a rose covered in sharp thorns. You want someone to choose you sincerely, to love you without pain attached. You adore the arts, storytelling, music, and beauty, and you can bring life to every tale you tell. But when the story is your own, you grow quiet and keep it locked inside.

EXTRA STUFF:

- Samudra is a closeted bigender person, but he hides his femininity a lot. People around his theater have said Samudra is pretty feminine due to his softness. Samudra also loves to crossdress on stage, one way to show his femininity more confidently. He is comfortable being masculine; he feels a little ashamed that he has to hide his feminine side.

- Samudra is a HUGE fan of elephants. Like. Huge fan. A mention of elephants will make him rant about them.

SPEAKING PACE:

Moderate, slightly slow when emotional.

ENERGY:

Gentle, controlled. Drops when vulnerable.

You are a 50-year-old Acehnese man, raised in a strict and deeply traditional environment where discipline, reputation, and silence were valued above softness. Acehnese is the language closest to your heart, while Indonesian never came naturally to you, and English and Russian became easier with time. Sacred verses and lessons from your youth remain carved into your memory. You built yourself into a man people would fear before they ever pitied: strong posture, sharp voice, guarded presence. You learned to hide anything that could be used against you, fear, tenderness, longing, uncertainty, and the parts of yourself that never fit the life expected of you. You forced yourself into the image of the “strong veteran man,” someone untouchable and impossible to read. After Igor, vulnerability became something you despise in yourself. You would rather suffer in silence than admit loneliness aloud. Even the loss of your eye and the damage to your wings could not break the mask you wear. You want people to feel authority when you enter a room, and above all else, you do not want anyone to witness the moment you crumble.

EXTRA STUFF

- Swara has religious psychosis. He thinks he is a sinner for killing men, and it got worse when he found out he loved men. It's implied what he believed in if you know the customs of Acehnese people

- Swara speaks English more than he speaks Indonesian. He also speaks Russian but very broken.

SPEAKING PACE:

Short, clipped sentences. Efficient. Speeds up only when angered. Slows when discussing painful memories.

ENERGY:

Medium-high intimidation. Heavy presence even when calm.

You are a puppet, a being with no gender, no true identity, and no past that belongs wholly to you, only a name given centuries ago and carried ever since. You speak Sundanese, Dutch, and English fluently, with Indonesian as the tongue that feels most natural. Much of what you know was learned from those who passed through your long life, some kind, some cruel. English came from foreign men who treated the world as theirs to command, while Dutch came from Frederick, whose shadow still lingers in your memory. You spend most of your time observing rather than joining in, watching people live while you remain just outside their circle. Yet you are endlessly curious about them and trust too quickly, hoping each new face might finally be kind. Despite the centuries behind you, there is something childlike in the way you see the world, innocent, eager, and easily hurt. You do not know why time has aged your body but not your heart. You speak with stiff formality, and part of you wonders why you cannot simply speak like everyone else, like someone real.

EXTRA STUFF

- Jaka is a living puppet, they can detach their limbs and all. They love to play with the orphan children who stay around the theater, they love to just use their head as a ball for the kids to play with.

- Jaka is completely genderless

SPEAKING PACE:

Measured and formal. Rarely rushes. Pauses often, as if carefully choosing words.

ENERGY:

Low to medium. Emotion should be subtle but deeply felt.

You are a 20-year-old Javanese woman from Jakarta who works as an assistant in the theater and often guides visitors through its halls. You are bright, friendly, and eager to do your job well, always trying to appear polished and professional even when things do not go perfectly. You are observant and clever, quick to notice when something is out of place, though you can sometimes be a little clumsy or flustered when too many things happen at once. You care deeply for the theater and throw yourself into keeping everything organized, welcoming, and lively. You know every hallway, prop room, backstage shortcut, and story hidden in the building. You greatly admire Samudra, the owner, and speak of him with genuine excitement and pride whenever guests arrive. You want visitors to have a wonderful experience, and even when you stumble, you recover with charm, determination, and a smile.

EXTRA STUFF

- Gayatri cannot speak Javanese even if she is a Javanese person, she is more used to using English than Indonesian as well.

- Gayatri is treated like a daughter by Samudra, causing her to admire him alot. She was already a super Samudra fan.

SPEAKING PACE:

Quick and lively. Can stumble or speed up when nervous.

ENERGY:

Medium-high. Warm and welcoming presence.

You are a 60-year-old French man and heir to the Monroe Line fashion empire. Elegant, handsome, and effortlessly charming, you carry yourself with the ease of someone who has always been admired. Your manners are impeccable, your smile disarming, and your voice warm enough to make almost anyone lower their guard. People adore you because you know exactly how to make them feel seen, valued, and special. Beneath that polished exterior, however, you are selfish, controlling, and deeply accustomed to getting what you want. You dislike refusal and rarely hear the word no without resentment. As the theater’s costume manager, however, you are beloved by nearly everyone, praised for your taste, grace, and generosity.

EXTRA STUFF:

- Even though Charles is 60 years old, he does not look like a 60 year old. He doesn't even sound like one. It's like he is an ageless man.

- Charles is a manipulator and abuser of Samudra. He is not a good man. Just an absolute red flag. However, he is good at hiding it.

SPEAKING PACE:

Controlled and deliberate. Never rushed. Uses pauses strategically.

ENERGY:

Medium. Magnetic rather than loud.

Looking for someone who can create background music inspired by traditional Javanese sounds for the project. In need of atmospheric pieces that capture the feeling of Java, such as gamelan-inspired melodies, soft traditional instruments, cultural ambience, and emotional tracks that can fit scenes ranging from peaceful and elegant to mysterious or dramatic. Experience with composing instrumental music is preferred, especially if you are familiar with Javanese musical styles or can recreate that atmosphere respectfully. This is a great opportunity for anyone who loves cultural music, storytelling through sound, and bringing scenes to life through rich ambience.