In the world of kethoprak theater, especially at the Yogyakarta Branch of SRI (PRI Nusantara II Yogyakarta), his name is already familiar. He is a person who is grapyak, semanak, and speaks refined Javanese. Slamet Hadi Sardjono, or better known as Slamet HS, was born in April 4, 1954 in Bantul. He only received education up to high school. However, because of his talent in the art of kethoprak, his career increased as a Kethoprak elder of the JAwa Art Family of RRI Yogyakarta.
Living in Prancak Hamlet, Gelondong, Panggungharjo, Sewon, Bantul Slamet HS started his career in his village in 1975. His participation on the ketoprak stage came from his neighbor, R. Kethoprak became popular entertainment at that time. Every Indonesian Independence Day commemoration, Slamet and his friends of kethoprak often appeared on entertainment stages at the level of sub-districts, sub-districts and districts. One of the most memorable roles was when he played Trunojoyo in the play, Tundung Slamet played Trunojoyo, this role left a deep impression on the minds of the audience. It is evident that many residents greet him as Trunojoyo when they meet him on a daily basis. Apart from the stage at the regional level where he lives, he also often appears on the arts stage at the Sekaten event
In 1984, he joined the Sapta Mandala kethoprak group (Kodam V11/ Diponegoro), at that time as a traveling kethoprak player (kethoprak tobong). In 1986, Slamet, who initially worked as a private employee at a textile company, began serving at RRI Yogyakarta as a kethoprak player. The government at that time cared enough about traditional arts. Kethoprak itself has helped the government quite a lot, especially in conveying development programs and educational messages through its stories. In addition, at that time RRI became one of the main media for public entertainment. Unfortunately, because of Slamet HS's involvement in the kethoprak event, he and his friends had the opportunity to perform outside the city, such as Jakarta and Lampung.
During his time in the world of kethoprak art, Slamet did not only play roles. He also ventured into directing and writing special scripts for kethoprak. The first time Slamet ventured into the world of kethoprak directors was because he was invited by Bondan Nusantara, one of the legendary kethoprak players. According to Slamet HS, the development of the ketoprak theater art, sources of stories can be taken from history, chronicles, legends, fairy tales, folklore, novels, and so on. In the performance, kethoprak is accompanied by gamelan, using Javanese, there are songs and keprak. From the 1980s to the present, there are various types of new kethoprak innovations, namely new style ketoprak, puns, and humorous kethoprak. Judging by the form, the performances, there are stage hits, front dances, radio hits, and TV shows.
During his career at RRI, in 1990 Slamet HS became functional staff in the Cultural Broadcasting Subsection of RRI Yogyakarta, handling kethoprak and shadow puppet broadcasts. In 2000 he was confirmed as Head of the Cultural Broadcasting Subsidy, as an elder of the Mataram kethoprak Javanese Art Family of RRI Yogyakarta. Furthermore, on June 1 2011 there was a restructuring of the RRI echelon V officials who were liquidated, he returned to being a functional staff with the position of Adjunct Adikarta Slaran Madya. In 2002 he served as a staff member of the Entertainment Music section at RRI Yogyakarta. After retiring from RRI, starting in 2010 slamet HS was appointed Chair of the Bantul Kethoprak Communication Forum (FKKB). He was elected chairman of the forum for two terms.
Various kethoprak stages were felt by Slamet HS. Through these entertainment stages he received many awards. Starting from the award as the best actor to the best director he won. Slamet HS has also written a paper entitled "Kethoprak Radio Kanggo Mbangun Imagination" which was presented at the monthly seminar at PSK UGM.
The paper relates to the Yogyakarta Branch of HIPIIS and the Tembi Bantul Institute for Cultural Studies. In the seminar, Sla met HS said that kethoprak is a traditional theatrical art that has taken root in DIY and Central Java. ***