A Wayang Purwa performance is a complicated compound of very diverse elements. It is a shadow-show and a puppet play requiring the greatest possible dexterity on the part of the dalang, particularly in the fighting scenes. It is a recital of both classical and modern Javanese music, both vocal and orchestral. Further, a number of classical prose poems, known and loved by the Javanese public and composed of the most beautiful language, are declaimed to soft music by the dalang. The performance is enlivened by clowning, often ad lib; and usually some slap-stick. It also contains comment on current affairs, local, national, and even international. In addition to all of which, the point of the entire performance is ethical education and character-building.

The “Eleven-Eleven” system is a good way of describing how all these elements fit together in a performance.

The first “Eleven” is composed of the dramatis personae and the equipment already described above. The second “Eleven” enumerates the audio-visual effects obtained in action. All of the first “Eleven” are visible only from the dalang’s side of the screen, but the second “Eleven” can be better enjoyed from the shadow side.

The two sides of the system are listed as follows hereunder:

Dramatis Personae And Equipment

1 Dalang – The leading artist
2 Niyaga – Musicians
3 Pesinden – Women Singers
4 Wayang – Puppet
5 Kelir - Screen
6 Blencong – Oil Lamp
7 Dhebog – Banana Boles
8 Kotak – Wooden Chest
9 Chempala – Wooden Knocker
10 Kepyak – Metal Rattles
11 Gamelan – Orchestra instruments

Audio-Visual effect

1 Sabetan – Puppet Movements
2 Janturan – Declaimed narration
3 Chariyos – Narration
4 Ginem – Dialogue
5 Suluk – Mood-setting songs
6 Tembang – Songs
7 Dodogan – Knocking sounds on wood
8 Kepyakan – Mettalic Rattling
9 Gending – Melodies
10 Gerong Male Chorus
11 Sindenan – Songs by the pesinden