Season 1
Dinge van 'n Kind is a South African, Afrikaans-language television drama series based on the novel Die Dinge van 'n Kind by Marita van der Vyver which revolves around the trials and tribulations of Mart Vermaak.
The disillusionment of her coming-of-age years takes place against the political upheavals of the late 1970s, but an older Mart find herself in a different kind of predicament.
In the novel Die Dinge van 'n Kind readers get to know Mart both as a teenager and as an expat in her thirties, living in London.
The TV series, however, also shows Mart as an older woman who returned to South Africa permanently.
In the series, Mart is portrayed by three different actors in various stages of her life: Melissa Myburg, Cintaine Schutte and Susanne Beyers.
Melissa Myburgh is young Mart, Cintaine Schutte is Mart in the 1990s and Susanne Beyers is present day Mart.
In the scenes set in the 1970s, Mienke Ehlers plays Mart's friend Dalena and Augusta Zietsman is their other friend, Suna.
Jana Kruger and André Weideman are Mart's parents, Marlene and Karel; and her siblings are played by Andahr Cotton (Simon), Méla Swanepoel (Liefie) and Wesley Smit (Neil).
Other actors in the scenes from the 1970s are Ben Albertyn as Pierre and Deànré Reiners as Hein, as well as Stian Bam, Amalia Uys, Lizz Meiring, Martelize Kolver and Sandra Vaughn.
In the 1990s scenes, Wilhelm van der Walt portrays the role of the older Simon.
Ludwig Binge, Kim Syster, André Roothman, Zenobia Kloppers and Quanita Adams all appear in the present day scenes.
The themes that run through the book and stage adaptations are also the backbone of the TV series.
Dinge van 'n Kind is an M-Net Original Production, produced for kykNET by Nagvlug Films.
Elanie Rupping and Henriëtta Gryffenberg wrote the script and the directors are Quentin Krog, Zandré Coetzer and Tinarie van Wyk-Loots.
The producers are Scharl van der Merwe and Zandré Coetzer.
Original music is by Pierre-Henri Wicomb.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Melissa Myburgh ... Mart Vermaak
Mienke Ehlers ... Dalena van Vuuren
Jana Strydom ... Marlene Vermaak (as Jana Kruger)
Andahr Cotton ... Simon Vermaak
Augusta Zietsman ... Suna van der Merwe
Andre Weideman ... Karel Vermaak
Méla Swanepoel ... Liefie Vermaak
Liam Bosman ... Ben
Ben Albertyn ... Pierre Malan
Wesley Smit ... Niel Vermaak
Ludwig Binge ... Pierre O'Brien
Susanne Beyers ... Mart Vermaak (62)
Kim Syster ... Janine O'Brien
Andre Roothman ... Thomas O'Brien
Recurring / Guests
Felicia Mahambehlala ... Maria
Stian Bam ... Krisjan
Cintaine Schutte ... Mart Vermaak (33)
Martelize Kolver ... Mrs Retief
Amalia Uys ... Miss Lourens
Sebastian Srubis ... Young Pierre
Deànré Reiners ... Heinrich
Jan Combrink ... Niek
Shaun Chad Smit ... Big Man (as Shaun Chad Smith)
Minke Marais ... Jolene
Anja Taljaard ... Girl
Leanna Dreyer ... Louise
Kobus de Jager ... Priest
Carishma Basday ... Doctor
Zenobia Kloppers ... Rachel
Quanita Adams ... Mercia
Joanie Combrink ... Pharmacy Auntie
Wynand Ferreira ... Pine
Jan Burger ... Headmaster Maritz
Hanlé Barnard ... Cheryl
Francois Coertze ... Priest
Sandra Vaughn ... Lina
Laura-Lee Mostert ... Barbara
Stella Bojé ... Linda
Brümilda van Rensburg ... Suna
Sophia Passerini ... Social Worker
Lizz Meiring ... Miss Muffet
Jakkie Groenewald ... Mr Botha
Yutamé Scheffers ... Grace
Odwa Gwanya ... Mpho
Sihle Mnqwazana ... Bafana
Linda Sokhulu ... Lesedi
Wilhelm van der Walt ... Simon (older)