Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) once again demonstrated its commitment to nurturing students' interests, talents, and creativity through the 2026 Production Performance organized by the Teater Surya Student Activity Unit (UKM). Held at the Kasman Singodimedjo Auditorium of UMPWR on Saturday evening (July 18, 2026), the event featured a theatrical performance of Kampung Kardus, written by Gepeng Nugroho, which seamlessly combined acting, dance, and live music into a captivating stage production.
The Production Performance is an annual program of Teater Surya that provides students with a platform to develop their artistic abilities while appreciating literary works through theatrical performance. It also serves as part of UMPWR's efforts to introduce the university to the wider community through positive student activities while contributing to the preservation of Indonesia's cultural and artistic heritage.
The entire production was managed by students, involving various committees and artistic teams. Genada Sanjaya served as Production Manager, while Nurul Salsabila directed the performance, assisted by Deni Ramadhani and Ana Inayatul Azizah. The collaboration among the actors, music directors, choreographers, makeup artists, and the entire production crew resulted in a performance that captivated the audience from beginning to end.
The play opened by introducing the lives of the residents of Kampung Kardus ("Cardboard Village"), a modest community inhabited by people with diverse backgrounds, personalities, and life struggles. What initially appeared to be an ordinary neighborhood gradually revealed deeper tensions as conflicting interests, social issues, and injustice sparked disputes among its residents.
As the story unfolded, each character faced challenges that reflected real-life social realities, including greed, indifference toward others, and the struggle to survive amid hardship. These escalating conflicts drew the audience into the emotional journey of the characters while encouraging reflection on social issues that remain relevant in everyday life.
Beyond its portrayal of a simple community, Kampung Kardus conveyed powerful messages about humanity, solidarity, compassion, and a sense of belonging that can flourish even in the midst of adversity. Through theatrical storytelling, the play offered a thoughtful social critique, inviting audiences to rediscover the true meaning of home, togetherness, and hope within society.
The performance concluded with a curtain call, during which the cast and production crew returned to the stage to express their appreciation to the audience and celebrate the collective effort behind the production.
UMPWR Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Dr. Budi Setiawan, S.Sos., M.Si., expressed his appreciation for Teater Surya's dedication to producing creative works that contribute to students' character development.
"Production performances like this demonstrate that UMPWR students are capable of creating high-quality works through a long and meaningful creative process. The University will continue to support platforms that foster student talent, including in the fields of arts and culture. Activities such as this not only produce outstanding performances but also cultivate character, collaboration, leadership, and social awareness among our students," he said.
Meanwhile, Teater Surya member Alya Widyastuti explained that this year's Production Performance carried the theme, "Amidst Narrow Spaces, We Discover the Meaning of Home." According to her, the theme was chosen to encourage audiences to see home not merely as a physical place to live, but as a space that fosters belonging, togetherness, and hope.
"Through this Production Performance, titled Kampung Kardus and themed 'Amidst Narrow Spaces, We Discover the Meaning of Home,' we hope to create a space for artistic expression, strengthen connections among artists, and make a positive contribution to the development of arts and culture, particularly within Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo and the wider community," Alya stated.
Through the 2026 Production Performance, UMPWR reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the holistic development of its students. In addition to academic excellence, the University continues to encourage students to create, collaborate, and produce artistic works that inspire others while fostering appreciation for cultural values and humanity. (akb/KP)
