New Comedy Talent From Inside Indonesia

Stand-up comedy is rapidly gaining popularity in Indonesia.

Live shows on TV attract big audiences and there is a growing number of stand-up comedy clubs opening up across the country.

And behind bars of Bulu female prison in Central Java, Indonesia, inmates are now trying their hands at comedy, bringing some humour to the horror of prison life.

It’s an act on Aladin and the Genie who are comparing their time spent in prison.

It’s performed by a group of three female inmates, lead by Indah Wulandari.

“It wasn’t until I was in prison, that I realised I had this talent. I thank God for punishing me this way. If I wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be like this. I remember how my mother would always encourage me, whatever happened. She used to say, ‘Come on Wulan, you can do anything, and I’ll support you’.”

Her team was declared the winner of the first ever stand-up comedy competition for Indonesian prisoners.

The Deputy Governor of Central Java, Rustriningsih, was amongst the crowd and couldn’t stop laughing during the event.

“It’s a really good show. It makes everyone laugh their heart out and forget all about their miseries. It’s good for prisoners to find their new talents inside the jail... and there are great talents. Even though they’re all inside the prison, they can explore themselves. For me, this is really great.”

The contest was organised by a group of local comedians in Semarang called KILLS.

Agung Endyatmoko from KILLS says the main idea for the event was to entertain inmates and to encourage them to do something creative and positive.

“Many believe that inmates inside prison are only learning how to become better criminals because they meet and learn from other inmates. That’s a negative path to follow. But if we teach them to do something positive, it will have positive results as well.”

Baba, a member of the winning team, couldn’t agree more.

She says that comedy provides a way of expressing her opinions and frustrations, in a way that otherwise might be unacceptable.

“It’s hard living inside prison. But through comedy we can  voice our problems and get our message across . We always want to express what’s inside our hearts but we’re rarely given the chance.”

The competition was also supported by the Institute for International Peace Building... an NGO that focuses on creating a safe transition for inmates back into their communities.

According to its director, Noor Huda Ismail, comedy is an effective way of empowering inmates once they’re released, because it’s a language that everyone speaks.

“People who are involved in crime go through a process... and at some point, they want to start a new life. And this willingness to change must be supported by the state and private institutions....so that people who are now in prison will not be a burden to the state and to the community in the future.”

Inmates, such as Aida, really appreciated the comedy performed by her fellow prisoners.

“There’s no entertainment inside. We do the same routine everyday. So it’s good to have this competition to entertain ourselves. This is so exciting!”