Between studying politics and economics, Denzel Tan transforms into a young man from 1945 Bandung on the Temulawak 2026 stage.
A musical theatre fan who has watched countless productions, Denzel Tan is now taking a new step. The University of Melbourne student plays Galih, the lead character in the Temulawak 2026 musical theatre production titled 'Uproar Beneath the Red Sky' (Riuh di Bawah Langit Merah).
The show will be staged on Saturday, 15 August 2026 at The National Theatre, St Kilda, Melbourne.
Galih is a young man in 1945 Bandung who works at a printing press. Through his job, he reads about Dutch forces moving to reclaim Indonesia. A surge of nationalism drives him to act, but he also carries the weight of responsibility as the head of his household, looking after his younger sister, Sekar.
When I'm rehearsing, it's no longer Denzel rehearsing, it's Galih. It's not Denzel acting, it's truly Galih in 1945 talking to Sekar.Denzel Tan, who plays Galih in Temulawak 2026.
When asked about his biggest challenge, Denzel, who has been rehearsing with the Temulawak cast since March 2026, said that shifting his mentality from "Denzel who is acting" to truly becoming Galih in 1945 Bandung has been the hardest part. That mental shift, Denzel said, is the key to delivering his best performance.
Listen to the full conversation with Denzel Tan on the SBS Indonesian podcast.
