Bali Agung is a lavish theater production that is inspired by story of love and betrayal of Bali’s 12th century ruler Sri Jaya Pangus and his wife Kang Ching Wei. There are plenty of lavish court scenes as well as heavenly scenes featuring goddess Dewi Danu and fire and brimstone when Kang Ching Wei finds that her husband has betrayed her. Bali Agung features two important deities of Bali, Dewi Danu, the goddess of fertility and of Lake Batur a primary irrigation source and Kang Ching Wei the goddess of prosperity. The highlight of the performance is the elaborate ritual of the royal wedding and the parading of tall Barong Landung that are effigies of the king and Kang Ching Wei who were made to disappear by Dewi Danu. Traditional activities as highlighted in the show and parading of Barong Landung are still part of Balinese culture. Guests at the popular beach resort in Bali, Westin Resort Nusa Dua Bali have easy access to Bali Agung performances.
The show features a cast of 180 performers including several live animals such as elephants. Everyone including the animals is decked out in gorgeous period costumes. Cyclorama backdrops and lavish stage settings seek to convey various historic, heavenly and natural settings in which the story of love, loss and revenge takes place. Stage trap doors, facilities for aerial performances, the latest in stage lighting and sound systems, smoke and haze producing machinery, a moat in the front part of the stage assist the producers to deliver a slick and truly amazing show that is full of movement and action. Contemporary and traditional dance, puppetry and live animal performances are highlights of the show. The story line is punctuated with music performed by a western or gamelan orchestra and Chinese gongs and cymbals as appropriate. The performances are held in a modern 1,200 seat theater on Jalan Ida Bus Mantra that is part of the Bali Safari & Marine Park in Gianyar.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
