Season 1
Hillside is a South African medical drama television series created by Aubrey Sekhabi, Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom and Itumeleng Motsikoe which showcases the lives of young doctors and nurses full of passion for their profession and the hope of a successful new hospital.
They live for their work but also have an emotional need for friendship, support, love and intimacy from each other in this safe cocoon far from the demands of another world they call home but hardly ever see.
The show is filmed in a working public hospital and is fashioned on real life medical cases with stories that seamlessly blend reality and fiction.
In some ways the hospital is the hero, but the real heroes are the medical staff.
The storylines often focus on the contrasting 'family' bonds at the hospital and the different kinds of families that are seen in today's contemporary world.
Often the outside world rushes in uninvited bringing horror, wonder and sometimes disgust, all the while placing pressure on the relatively new staff with limited resources.
The central focus is the family and how we process the emotional events that affect us in sickness, in health and in death.
Production
The first season of Hillside was shot at the newly-built Pretoria Academic Hospital before it became operational, but since that hospital is now fully functional a new location had to be found for Season 2.
The Meulmed Medi-Clinic on Pretorius Street in Pretoria/Tshwane, part of the Medi-Clinic group of hospitals, came to the rescue. The old administration area in the hospital was moved into premises next door and the Hillside design team under the direction of Mmamitse Thibedi moved in to completely tear down the area and build up the set, which comprised an emergency reception and casualty treatment rooms.
The Meulmed Medi-Clinic also supplied offices and most importantly access to their intensive care ward, operating theatre and limited access to corridors and some other areas of the hospital.
Filming took place over 15 very intensive weeks from October 1st 2007 to the end of January 2008.
Hillside is filmed primarily in Tswana, Sesotho, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans (60-80%), with some use of languages such as English (20%), Venda and Tsonga.
The series is produced by GBR Productions with executive producer Aubrey Sekhabi. The series is directed by Teddy Mattera and is produced by David Max Brown. Writers include Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom, Aubrey Sekhabi and Martin Mpe. Original music is by Ezbie Moilwa.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Bonnie Mbuli ... Dr. Bontle Modisane (as Bonnie Henna)
John Kani ... Dr. Vincent Maloka (as Dr. John Kani)
Patrick Shai ... Dr. Kagiso Montshiwa
Nick Boraine ... Dr. Johan Bester
Lebohang Elephant ... Dr. Sam Mokae
Moshidi Motshegwa ... Dr. Grace Montshiwa
Mmabatho Mogomotsi ... Dr. Harriet Khanyi
Sisanda Henna ... Kenny Mogoiwa
Recurring / Guests
Rosalind Jacobs ... Matron du Toit
Lois du Plessis ... Shannon
Kedibone Tholo ... Nkele Sebata
Chuck Shisana ... Willy Phoma (as Boitumelo "Chuck" Shisana)
Mahlubi Kraai ... Det. James Mopeloa
Boitumelo Mothabela ... Matlakala Moila
Jabu Tshabalala ... Mpho Sigcau (as Jabulile Tshabalala)
Karabo Kgokong ... Thabang Molefe
Bubu Mazibuko ... Nurse Noma Bomela
Jacques Gombault ... Dr. Tony McCarthy
Fumani Shilubana ... Det. Nataniel Seboko
Gordon van der Spuy ... Thomas Meyer
Tebogo Maboa ... Dr. Nemavhulani
Prince Sithole ... Phillip Mabaso
Mooky Mabala ... Jabu Mabaso
Nosi Nodlweu ... Patricia Mokgalapa / Pregnant Woman
Bonolo Kolokoto ... Nomsa Motsepe
Kenneth Fraser ... Burn Victim
Mbuso Qwabaza ... Gunshot Gangster
Twiggy Mello ... Casualty Nurse
Busi Nyembe ... Nurse
Maggie Fraser ... Nurse
Richard Ndaba ... Clerk
Daniel Venter ... Paramedic
Emiel Adlem ... Paramedic
Gladness Noleqwa Radebe ... Nurse Thembi / Puleng
Thaven Naidoo ... Dr. Kutu
Simon Ledwaba ... Husband
Moipone Mokutle-Moroka ... Casualty Nurse
Danny Moleko ... Paediatrician
Thabo Sekgobela ... Tebza
Junior Mathabela ... Gangster
Sakky Sekgabi ... Gangster
Zenzo Ngqobe ... Nurse Lintle (as Zenzo Ngqobo)
Koketso Mojela ... Khumo Montshiwa
Anel Alexander ... Helen van Niekerk
Anthony Bishop ... Kobus van Niekerk
Mandla Gaduka ... Eddie Malapo
Irene Chale ... Selina
Shallah Mlambo ... Dimakatso
Murray Todd ... Bruce
Thembi Kubheka ... Mma Mogorosi
Maputla Setlako ... Teresa Mogorosi
Siyasanga Papu ... Dineo
Neil-Bennett Grib ... Dr. Nick Webber (as Neil Bennet)
Tessa Denton ... Glenda
Mary Twala ... Mma Maboa
Jessie Palmer ... Tsale's Mother (as Jessie Ntombizodwa Palmer)
Boikie Pholo ... Sehume
Salamina Mokome ... Board Chairperson
Gontse Matjeni ... Tsale
Tshadi Phogole ... Connie
Philip Mofomme ... Pathologist
Sibusiso Ndlovu ... Board Director
Mashapa Sesera ... Thabiso
Karabelo Lekalake ... Sophie
Thato Moraka ... Kholo Maloka
Frans Schoeman ... Marcel
Quinton Mayer ... Marcel's Partner
Wits Lesenyeho ... Dries (as Moila "Wits" Lsenyeho)
Khazamula Ndene ... Det. Moriri
Andrew Stock ... Det. van der Merwe
Debra Deats ... Mrs. Smith
Makwela Lekalakala ... Mr. Mofokeng (as Makwela 'Alf' Lekalakala)
Remofilwe Lekgoane ... Mmabatho Mofokeng
Patrick Pobee ... Pelo More
Francis Lartuy ... Junior More
Selaelo Mashaba ... Nancy
Tsallo Chokwe ... Khosi Maloka (as Tshallo Chokwe)
Shadrack Bokaba ... Violin Player
Tshepo Komane ... Violin Player