Faiza Mardzoeki

Faiza Mardzoeki is a writer, women’s movement activist and is also active in theatrical production. The latest project was a production comprising three short plays, each essentially a one woman performance,a monologue. This production was entitled "Women Seize the Night". Each play was performed by one of three prominent women actresses. The plays were written by Rieke Diah Pitaloka in collaboration with Faiza Mardzoeki. It was performed in 3 cities during March 2008: in the main drama theatre at Jakarta Art Centre, also in Aceh and Bandung.In 2007, she was producer of "Nyai Ontosoroh". She also wrote this play, adapting it from the greatest Indonesian novel “This Earth of Mankind” by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. This play was performed in 8 cities, including Jakarta. The 900 seats theatre was packed out every night. The performance was widely reported in the media. In November 2006, she was invited to "International Women Playwrights Conference" to give a drama session on Nyai Ontosoroh. She was also the coordinator of a jury judging play scripts that took up the issue of the situation of women in Indonesia. This was part of the Women Theatre Scenario Competition, TWB Project.April 2002 – she was Executive Producer, of “Woman at Point Zero” (Perempuan di Titik Nol). This was a theatrical adaptation of the Indonesian version of “Women at Point Zero”, the novel by Egyptian writer, Nawal El Saadawi. This performance was fully booked for every night. People unable to obtain tickets organized a demonstration demanding extra performances.She is Program Coordinator of Institute Ungu – Women’s Art and Cultural Centre- a Foundation working on women’s issues using art and culture as the main medium. It was established in July, 2002.As Institute Ungu Program Coordinator, she had overall coordinating responsibility for organisation of the Festival April, a three week long cultural festival of events by and/or about women. The program included a Fine Arts Exhibition of 48 women artists from around Indonesia as well as 2 from Finland. It also included a Women’s Film Festival that exhibited 32 films from around Indonesia and the world. There was also a Women’s Literary Festival involving book exhibitions and a series of public forums, and writing classes. The Festival also included a day-long seminar on Art and Women’s Liberation as well as a closing evening event, involving a Cultural Oration by two leading literary figures and musical, dance and other performances. In 1997-2002, she was head of education and organising division of Women’s Solidarity for Human Rights.Now, she is living in three cities, going back and forward between Jakarta, Singapore and Sydney. She is still active in the women's movement in Indonesia. Currently she is focusing on women and cultural issues and is active promoting women's rights through the arts.