Coming up on
Skemergrond tonight (17 July 2025):
Denver Vraagom as Mr Hallelujah!, Minister Wayne Ackerman.
This is the Gospel according to Denver with details on his character:
Denver: Wayne Ackerman is the kind of reverend who challenges stereotypes. He’s unorthodox - an energetic, funky minister who uses humour and creativity to make faith more accessible to everyone in the church.
For him, singing is the best way to spread a message - no matter how off-key or flat you’re singing.
Instead of long, formal sermons, he prefers to share his message during a walk in the garden or along the river.
He quickly grows attached to the congregation and the wider community.
Is Dominee Wayne a man who’s going to shake things up?
Denver: One aunt in the congregation finds him incredibly annoying at first, but she’ll later come to realise she actually likes his approach.
He even plants real plants inside the church. Why not? Things need to be livened up.
Church should be a place for everyone. Fill the building with life.
What do you enjoy most about playing a minister?
Denver: Strangely enough, I always wanted to be a minister when I was a child - I was an altar boy back then. But drama and sport eventually took over my life.
What makes this role so enjoyable is that it’s a new challenge. I can play only so many gangsters and messed-up characters! So, Dominee Wayne brings out a different side of me. A softer side.
A side that’s become more important to me - especially since I started my sober journey.
You, your wife, Ingrid Paulus, and your daughters, Skye and Hannah, recently moved to the Cape. What do you enjoy most about your life here?
I'm back where it all began for me, 32 years ago. Ingrid now has the chance to explore new possibilities.
She recently did some radio work, including a radio drama and directing book readings. She's also doing some dubbing again.
The kids love the beach, of course, and we’re just a five-minute walk from the ocean here in Saldanha Bay.
And we’re closer to my family, who I didn’t see much of for nearly 20 years.
You bring a lot of soap opera experience – both in front of and behind the cameras. What makes Skemergrond different for you?
With Skemergrond, I get to play and explore a bit more. Soap operas are like a sausage machine - fast-paced and structured. In soapies, we usually shoot with three cameras and a vision mixer who cuts between the shots in real time, almost like a DJ.
With Skemergrond, we work with only two cameras, and the setup is more dynamic. The angles are changed for every shot, and the lighting is constantly adjusted. That gives me space to explore different performance options for each scene.
Apart from Skemergrond, what else keeps you busy?
Not much. Being Dominee Wayne keeps me occupied. I’ve started writing again, although at a snail’s pace. On my days off, I make sure to spend quality time with the kids.
Rugby is one of your great loves. If you could swap positions with any Springbok player, who would it be and why?
Cheslin Kolbe. Back in Standard 5 (now Grade 7), I played wing for Diaz Primary in Mossel Bay. But after one big tackle and a lot of blood, I decided ballet might be safer. I still dream of scoring that perfect try.
What other dream do you have – as a director, and as an actor?
As a director, I’d love to bring two specific projects to life: a drama series and a film. As an actor, I’d like to play Hamlet.
When you look back on your life, what stands out as the biggest highlight?
The highlight(s) are my children, and my wife, who has stood by me through everything. And that life-saving moment when I gave up drinking seven years ago.
What does the future hold?
To continue growing as a unit with my family, and hopefully take on more soul-nourishing roles with plenty of magic, both in front of and behind the camera, and on stage.
Dominee Wayne shakes things up in Skemergrond, and he might even find love…
Flash facts on Denver:
Denver's big break came in 2003 when he joined 7de Laan as Sheldon Adams. He was on the show until 2011.
He's played two characters on Scandal! - Quintin Williams and Ferdinand.
He's been married to his fellow 7de Laaner
Ingrid Paulus since 2005.
His repertoire also includes roles on Suidooster, Diepe Waters and SABC2's Swartwater, Fishy Fêshuns and Erfsondes.