Suidooster blows up a storm

7 June, 2017 - 08:39

Afrikaans soapie Suidooster, which airs on kykNET, is fast becoming one of the most popular programmes on South African TV. That's according to the producers of the first Afrikaans soap to be filmed in Cape Town. By Robin Adams

They're keeping the audience numbers to themselves, because the Afrikaans channel they air on does not publish ratings figures from audience measurement surveys. But the Suidooster makers claim the show has more viewers than Binnelanders, which airs on the same channel.

Bradley Joshua, Suidooster executive producer, says the authentic story lines make the show so popular.

It represents real life and also represents our demographic in a more truthful manner, not in what is believed to be stereotypical of coloured people. We developed it around people we know and people in our own families.

For a long time, coloured people have always been depicted as the help, or the workers, and we wanted to flip that around because in our particular families (on the show) coloured people are professionals, they are business owners, and we wanted to do something that is more reflective of today.

Suidooster is set in the imaginary suburb of Ruiterbosch, but in truth Ruiterbosch is actually the old Makro building in Montague Gardens, which has been converted into film studios.

Suidooster has a star-studded cast which includes the likes of father and daughter acting duo Cedwyn and Portia Joel - best remembered for their roles in Generations.

Of course no soap would be complete without a villain, a Stefano Dimera type character. And Suidooster's bad boy is a gentleman by the name of Ian October, played by Abduraghmaan Adams. October is a shrewd businessman who'll crush anyone standing in his way.

Producers describe him as the man viewers love to hate .

Adams tells Weekend Argus he is nothing like his character.

What can I say? Ian October is what I would call a dog. The man loves money more than he loves anything else. Ian is full of himself. We are very different. I could easily be called one of the nicest people you'll ever meet, laughs Adams.

The 47-year old Adams grew up in Manenberg.

I think the place where I stem from has shaped me. And that stereotype that we all seem to give too much power to, that townships are synonymous with gangs and all other social evils. Yes and no!

I think there's a lot of us, especially in the entertainment industry, who come from disadvantaged communities and we have been able to break through that mould. And that for me, as a 40-plus actor, is important. That the youth specifically should latch on to that part of me - where I come from and the struggles I endured.

Adams has been around since the start of the show in 2015.

At the beginning we were all a bit nervous in terms of how people will receive it (the show), but people have been waiting for this, to hear the diversity in tongues,.. linguistically, that is exactly what Suidooster brought.

While there can be no doubt about the popularity of Adams's character October, Suidooster producers are all in agreement that Mymoena Samsodien is the one stealing the hearts of viewers.

Samsodien is a Muslim mother of twin sons in their 20s and a daughter, also 20-something, who she gave up for adoption at a young age.

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The role of Samsodien is played by Jill Levenberg, who says she and her character have many similarities. Mymoena is accessible, She's friendly, she's caring, she is an activist in her own little way. She's got endearing qualities, which make her human, says Levenberg.

She is a mother who will fight for her family, and who fights for her community. She is one of those mothers, and I think it is especially important now (in light of the child murders) your child is my child. She is just this loveable, earth mother kind of character.

Levenberg is regularly approached by fans in public.

It's a wonderful feeling when people come up to me and say they enjoy Mymoena and they enjoy the soap. We work hard, I put my heart and soul into the character, and to know that people enjoy the work and that the work resonates with them, is fulfilling for me.

KykNET publicist Wilmer Muller says the film industry in the Mother City is taking off in a big way.

If you look at the amount of TV being produced in Cape Town, it shows the Cape is becoming a choice for TV, he says proudly.

Suidooster's path to air is a unique and inspiring story.

It was early in 2015 when producers pitched the show to kykNET. In April they got a pilot programme together. KykNET bosses loved it and gave the go-ahead for filming in June. Just five and a half months later, Suidooster was on South African TVscreens - three times weekly. (Monday to Wednesday)

But such was the interest in the newest Afrikaans soapie, the public demanded more, because the wait from Wednesday night to the next on air slot on a Monday, was just too long. And in July Suidooster added a Thursday night show.

Currently there are talks under way about making it a Monday to Friday affair.

Sundays are omnibus days in Suidooster country. Addicts are able to get their fix from 2pm and catch up with the entire week's episodes.

The actors and production crew's workdays start very early. They're on set at 7.30am and film till around 7.30pm.

Adams finds it all incredibly thrilling, saying: The best thing about coming to work here is that we are a family. And that we share one another's challenges, but I think also personally.

I have been on many sets before, you come in, you do your job, you go (home). Suidooster is entirely different.

Suidooster airs at 6pm on kykNET (DStv channel 144) with repeats at 8pm on kykNET&Kie (channel 145) and again at 10.30pm on kykNET. The show is also available on the DStv Now app.

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