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Ornament Fest #4 Successfully Held: Udayana English Literature Students Bring Literature to Life Through "Narratives in Motion"
Denpasar, June 10, 2026 - The English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University held the Ornament Fest #4 with the theme "Narratives in Motion" on Wednesday (10/06). The performance, which took place at the Widya Sabha Mandala Auditorium, Ida Bagus Mantra Building 3rd Floor, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University was the final project of the English Performing Arts course taken by the 2023 batch of English Literature students. This event was attended by the Vice Deans, the Head of the English Literature Student Association (HMPSSI), the Coordinator of the Bachelor of English Literature Study Program, and the lecturers of the English Performing Arts course.
In his report, the Head of the Ornament Fest #4 Committee, I Putu Diva Adhiguna, explained that the theme "Narratives in Motion" was brought up to bring literary texts to life on stage through five theatrical plays and one poetry performance. This approach is expected to inspire the audience while providing a new experience in enjoying literary works. Following this, Dr. Galuh Febri Putra, M.A., as the representative of the teaching lecturers, appreciated the dedication of Udayana University's English Literature students in organizing this performance. He emphasized that the festival, initiated by Prof. Dr. I Made Netra, S.S., M.Hum., is not merely a fulfillment of a final assignment, but rather a learning laboratory and a stepping stone for students to pioneer a career in Bali's professional theater industry.
A similar appreciation was also expressed by the Coordinator of the English Literature Study Program, Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Parthama, S.S., M.Hum., who hopes that the practical output of the English Performing Arts course can continue and become a distinct identity for the English Literature students of Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University. The event was then officially opened by the striking of the gong by the Vice Dean III for Student Affairs and Information of Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University, Dr. Ni Ketut Puji Astiti Laksmi, S.S., M.Si. Representing the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University, she conveyed that the long preparation process for this performance is a foundational asset for the development of students' talents. She also expressed her hope that in the future, these performances can develop massively into a faculty-scale arts week integrated with other study programs within Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University.
Continuing the tradition of the previous year, this year's Ornament Fest #4 again brought in three judges with exceptional track records in the arts and performance sector. The judging panel consisted of Kristiawan, S.S., M.A., a multimedia theater practitioner actively producing various archaeological art collaboration projects and exhibitions; Titin Aminarti Daeng Tiji, the Best Actress awardee of Ornament Fest #3 who also excels in storytelling; and Hadi Satria Ganesa, a theater, poetry, and monologue performer with extensive experience on various art stages such as Sastra Malam and exhibition openings.
The series of performances began with the Poetry class delivering a poem titled "The Applicant" by Sylvia Plath. The dramatization of this poem depicted a sharp critique of social expectations and the commodification of gender roles within the institution of marriage. Following the poetry dramatization, the stage of Ornament Fest #4 was enlivened by five theatrical plays with highly varied genres from each class of the 2023 English Literature batch.
The tension inside the Widya Sabha Mandala Auditorium immediately escalated when Drama Class E presented a play titled Lockdown: Survival Class. This thriller-survival drama depicted the struggle of a group of students and teachers trapped in the midst of a zombie outbreak caused by a failed science experiment. The atmosphere then shifted to classic and emotional through the presentation of Drama Class B with the play In the Shadow of Pride. Adapting Jane Austen's classic work Pride and Prejudice, this performance set in Georgian-era England immersed the audience in a romance thick with elements of misunderstanding, social pressure, and ego clashes among its characters.
The diversity of themes continued into the second half of the event. Drama Class D presented. The Crown of Ashes, a historical tragedy play exploring power conflicts, family betrayal, and the domino effect of injustice in the Weningrat Kingdom. Continuing the dark theme, Drama Class C invited the audience into a mysterious world through the performance of Circus of Your Mind. This drama highlighted the dark side and emotional dynamics of the performers in the Phantasma carnival post-tragedy, accompanied by the main character's struggle to uncover the strange events behind the scenes. All theatrical performances concluded dramatically with The Devil I Trusted. This horror-mystery drama presented by Drama Class A told the story of murder terrors experienced by a group of students vacationing at an isolated hotel.
Before concluding the event, the board of judges appreciated the total commitment of each class's performance, while also providing technical notes regarding stage blocking, transition efficiency, and lighting and sound issues. The participants' enthusiasm peaked as the event closed with an Awarding Session announcing the winners of the six prestigious nominations of Ornament Fest #4, which included: Best Performance: Class of C with Circus of Your Mind, Best Adaptation: Class of D The Crown of Ashes, Best Actor: Mr. X from Circus of Your Mind (Class of C), Best Actress: Irene from The Devil I Trusted (Class of A), Best Costume: Class of C Circus of Your Mind, and Favorite Poster: Class of D with The Crown of Ashes
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY