CHARACTERS AND CASTING

Father: Doug Macintyre

Doug is a middle aged wine famer who is well respected in Stellenbosch, a city in the heart of Cape Town’s wine lands.  He is proud of his family and their success.  His marriage to University sweetheart Barbara is a happy union and they share a sense of humour.  He is supportive of her political aspirations and accepts that she is too intelligent and motivated to be a house wife who plays bridge and frequents beauty parlours.

Doug is played by David Rees.  David is one of the most familiar faces to South Africa screens, David Rees spent the last 18 years on South Africa’s first daily soap EGOLI – Place of Gold portraying Niek Naude. He has also appeared in many films, TV series and theatre productions including ‘American Ninja 4’, ‘Agter Elke Man’, ‘Die Netwerk’ and ‘Dit Wat Stom Is’.  

Barbara has successfully raised three children and now feels it is time to give back to her community and make a difference.  She aspires to be the next Helen Zille.  Although demure and ‘twinset and Pearis” on the outside she is though and highly intelligent.  She is also articulate and reads well on TV.

Tiffany Kelly plays Barbara.  No stranger to South Africa’s Television screens, Tiffany became a house-hold name after appearing in South Africa’s first daily soap opera EGOLI – Place of Gold in 1992 (and since) as the frank and tough ‘cookie’ Sonet.

Geoffrey is a fourth year Engineering student who is adored by his youngest siblings.  He is gay and promiscuous but fearful of relationships and “being found out”.  He is brooding about coming out of the closet but fears the ramifications regarding his family and their status in the community.  After his father’s shock disclosure this “outing” becomes seemingly impossible.  He is called “Mac” but prefers Geoffrey.

The role of Mac is played by Lyall Ramsden.  Lyall made his professional debut in 2004. Production highlights include playing the role of Zazu in Disney's THE LION KING for which he received a Naledi Theatre Award Nomination, Riff-Raff in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, MY FAIR LADY, ONS VIR JOU, COMING OUT AGAIN, and UNCLE MAX for BBC Film. He has been involved in a number of corporate events, radio and television commercials.

Cathy (she hates the name) is her father’s princess.  Blessed with good looks and intelligence she has captured the heart of one of the “golden boys” of Stellenbosch University.  She and her man enjoyed a healthy sex life, if somewhat predictable sex life and marriage is on the cards.

A.K.A. Butch after Butch James as he promises to be the next best thing in South African Rugby.  He is at a private boys’ boarding school and favours sport over academics.  Utterly charming and both boys and girls love him.

Pierre joined Doug’s wine company as an assistant and took to the industry immediately.  He has already won many prestigious awards as a young wine maker and the future looks good for him.  He travels extensively with Doug.  Secretly he is obsessed by Doug and is in love with him.  He is jealous of anyone else who has Doug’s attention and even writes himself fantasy letters of undying passion signed by “D’.

Pierre is played by Gert van Schalkwyk.  Gert was the Fashion Face of Africa for FTV, appeared in commercials such as MTN, Wimpy, Klippies and Cola, Utterly Butterly and Galaxy Chocolates. His stage and theatre experience includes ‘Wit leuns and Swart dade’, Die drie van der Walts’ (directed by EGOLI’s own Bromley Cawood), ‘Blomme en bye’ as well as ‘Ek…?’. In 2009 Gert had his debut on EGOLI screens as Jacques, Vuyatela’s ladies man pilot who quickly sets the screens alight as he plays up to his playboy status.

Californian: Julian Neal

Julian is an all American Californian boy obsessed with body image and looks.  He is insecure and hopes marriage to Daniel will make him feel more secure.  He lacks general knowledge and operates at quite a superficial level.

Californian: Daniel Cadding

Daniel is the life and soul of the party – larger than life and gregarious.  He speaks to everyone and anyone.  Fights often ensue because Julian gets jealous.

Daniel is played by Ashley Dowds.  Ashley is a well known Film, TV and Theatre actor who has had a diversified career as the lead in Scandal! locally, a major role in the UK series, Wild at Heart and such cutting edge theatre peices as Hard Love.  Ashley was also a presenter on SABC 3 for several years and is one of the country's top voice artists.

Victor Smith

Good looking, well built and charismatic.  Victor has the body and looks that appeal to men and women.  He is cool and calculating.  His relationship with girlfriend Sandra is very physical.  She is moving in with him but there is no talk of marriage.  Sandra works at night frequently and Victor cruises a gay club where his friend is a barman.  He is very aware of the effect he has on men and women.

Girlfriend and Television Presenter: Sandra Martin

Sandra is sassy and sexy.  She is very ambitious and determined to do well in the world of television news.  She is an excellent talk show host and her questions are intelligent and tenacious.  She sometimes wonders about Victor and his whereabouts but fights are solved by passionate and sometimes aggressive sex.

Sandra is played by Jill Middelkop.  They say dynamite comes in small packages and this lady certainly lives up to that saying! As a singer, dancer, choreographer, mime artist and actress, Jill first hit mega-stardom in her homeland as part of the first South African all-girl, all-Afrikaans girl band, SHINE 4. After numerous roles in various stage productions, she spread her acting wings with a role as the flirtatious and driven ‘Jansie Jansen’ in South Africa’s longest-running daily soap-opera, EGOLI – Place of Gold.

Detective: Penelope de Vos

She is large, loud and garrulous.  She appears to be disorganised and ignorant but never misses a beat (Colombo style).  She is frustrated by the lack of motivation and support she gets from her superiors and bungling assistant.  Tough and assertive, she also has a heart of gold and takes the cause of the cause of the underdog and marginalised.

Sharleen Surtie-Richards plays the role of Penelope.  Known as one of South Africa’s most awarded popular and renowned actresses, Shaleen Surtie-Richards is as popular on screen as she is off it. With 40 major Best Actress awards to her name, her most familiar roles include ‘Fiela’ in ‘Fiela se Kind’, the irreverent ‘Nenna’ in South Africa’s first daily soap-opera ‘EGOLI – Place of Gold’ and the title role in the incredibly popular ‘Shirly Valentyne’ – a local stage production of the famous film ‘Shirley Valentine’.

Police Assistant: Billy-Bob Adams

Straight from the Transkei, the under belly of Cape Town life is all new to him.  He soon learns the ropes however.

Billy-Bob is played by Tazz Nginda.  Model and actor Tazz Nginda was discovered at an early age and he quickly set himself as one to be contended with. His modeling made him a familiar face to local audiences and his roles in popular films and television series made him a household name.

Tour Guide: Sarah Johnston

Christina Storm acts the part of Sarah.

Christina Storm is known to millions the world over as a top fashion model and one of South Africa’s most recognizable beauties. Her turn as an actress came quite naturally after starring in over 200 local and international commercials. She set tongues wagging on South Africa’s longest running soap-opera ‘Egoli – Place of Gold’ as the flirtatious ‘Bienkie’ and her future looks bright!

Tour Guide: Monique Anderson

Sexy and gorgeous Monique and Sarah engage in an all girl sex act which fascinates the naive Billy-Bob. 

Monique is portrayed by Leigh. One of South Africa’s top up-and-coming models, Leigh is quickly receiving popular acclaim with her beauty (and brains!). A regular feature on fashion ramps and in local magazines and newspapers, as well as a role in South Africa’s first daily soap opera, EGOLI – Place of Gold, Leigh is definitely one to watch!