Superb TV opportunity

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Seven Mossel Bay children have been selected to appear on the programme, Uitblinkers, on the kykNET channel on DStv.

The fortunate children are currently being coached online by well-known actors from kykNET soapies Binnelanders and Suidooster - Germandt Geldenhuys, Reynardt Hugo and Desiré Gardner.

Liam Bennett, Jordin Naudé, siblings Erin and Sanchia Petersen, Lyla Galant, Katya Glockzin and Sesona Fow are the young Mossel Bay actors who were chosen from among thousands of entries from children nationwide.

The drama project is called Speeltoneel and it is being presented by Anthonie Bougas, who is the producer of Uitblinkers.

The seven children, together with the others who have been chosen from across the country, are being mentored for a whole year by the three actors via videos, Zoom meetings and WhatsApp calls.

The youngsters will perform in the drama piece, Speeltoneel, which will form part of Uitblinkers. The children had to send in a short dramatic piece or monologue to compete for their place in the piece.

What made Liam Bennett's acceptance for the show extraordinary was that he is English speaking, yet Speeltoneel will be in Afrikaans. Liam appears on E is for Elephant on the children's show, Sesame Street, broadcast from New York. The filming was done at the Knysna Elephant Park.

Local lass Jordin Naudé appears in the multi-award-winning movie, Fiela se Kind.

Anthonie Bougas explained: "The new season of Uitblinkers is only starting in December. We are preparing the children to be on the TV show. Speeltoneel will be recorded in March. It will be a drama production in theatres in Pretoria and Cape Town. Speeltoneel will be recorded and then form part of the Uitblinkers programmes next year as a segment. There will be an insert from Speeltoneel in Uitblinkers every week."

Bougas said: "This is so nice for children. They get the opportunity to work with famous people they look up to and to appear on television."

Germandt Geldenhuys, Reynardt Hugo and Desiré Gardner.