TV News South Africa

Double dose of Binnelanders

M-Net's popular television soapie Binnelanders is soon to be hitting the stage. At this year's Aardklop Kunstefees, the soapie will be transforming itself into a complete theatre production in what is billed as a first for South African TV history.

The comedy Binnelanders Buiteweste, commissioned by M-Net and penned by Lizz Meiring, may be seen 25 – 29th September at the Madiba Banquet Hall in Potchefstroom.

Head of M-Net Local Productions Carl Fischer says that Binnelanders Buiteweste is an astonishing milestone. “Binnelanders will celebrate its second birthday shortly after the play wraps on stage. This weekly hospital drama hooked so many viewers within its first few months that we decided to turn it into a daily soap and now it has developed into a stage production, too. Binnelanders is simply going from strength to strength.”

Some of the best actors

Fischer adds that Binnelanders has some of the country's best actors. “Binnelanders Buiteweste also gives some of the actors an opportunity to showcase their comedic timing and theatre talents. We trust that the theatre patrons will enjoy this play thoroughly.”

Binnelanders Buiteweste is centred around six favourite Binnelanders characters – Malan, Pippa, Kitte, Toeks, Elise and Matron. After a stressful week at the Binneland Clinic, they each decide that it is time for a getaway weekend – without each other's knowledge. When they all end up staying at the same hotel, hilarious consequences ensue.

While the characters are there, the hotel also hosts a ‘laughter conference' and the Binnelanders characters unwittingly become part of this event too.

Marida Swanepoel, commissioning editor for drama series, says that laughter is always the best medicine, despite Binnelanders Buiteweste being quite a challenge for the actors. “They are all portraying more than one character and are doing costume changes at lightning speed.”

Suitable

Swanepoel points out that Binnelanders Buiteweste is also suitable for viewers who do not follow the soap.

The actors who make up the cast of Binnelanders Buiteweste are Nadia Valvekens, Paul du Toit, Franci Swanepoel, Jurgen Hellberg, Lindie Stander and Fatima Abdool.

At the helm of this project is experienced director Gerrit Schoonhoven, who is also a director on the soap.

Tickets for Binnelanders Buiteweste are available at Computicket.

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