Tydelik Terminaal is a 13-episode light drama about 22-year-old honours student, Kittie Claasen, who must redefine her life after she is diagnosed with cancer.
It’s “the best kind of cancer you could possibly get”, Doctor Pillay assures her. In short, it will be six months of total agony, and then… life as usual. The only problem is that it’s her honours year and this speedbump, as she sees it, in her academic career will mean that all her dreams of Pulitzer Prize winning journalism will have to be postponed because of Hodgkin and his untimely disease.
The series revolves around the six months she receives chemo, during which she makes friends in unusual places, tries to finish her studies, and picks up unexpected life experience and knowledge along the way.
Kittie and her two best friends, Mandy and Fanie, find themselves in the crazy in between phase of life before stepping into adulthood. It’s a time of leaving their childhood behind, but still having fun; planning for their future, but uncertain of what this future will look like.
Tydelik Terminaal is inspired by the creator of the series, Elanie Rupping’s own battle with cancer. “I’ve learnt that life’s challenges can sometimes be its greatest gifts, because it creates a sense of empathy through which we can connect with people. The best way I can do this, is through the stories I tell. That is why I used one of the most difficult things that has happened in my life as a vehicle to, hopefully, make people feel that they aren’t alone.”
Etienne Fourie is director the series. “It was a difficult yet fulfilling experience. Tydelik Terminaal is an important and honest story with characters most of us will recognize. It looks at various serious issues, with empathy and humor.”
Carla Smith, who portrays the role of Kittie, is a well-known theatre actress, who has been part of plays, such as Die maan val bewusteloos, Sewe Deugde, nee minder and Fiela se kind. She’s also played a guest roll in the soapie, Binnelanders.
Eve Nthabiseng Rasimeni and Hendrik Nieuwoudt is seen as Kittie’s best friends, Mandy and Fanie. Eve is known for her roles in Isibaya, Rhythm City, Dwaalster and Suidooster. Hendrik’s theatre roles include Made you look, Raponsie and Hoekom is die badkamer vloer nat. He also played a role in the shortfilm, Kloof.
South African legends, Anna-Mart van der Merwe and Frank Opperman, also play a role in Tydelik Terminaal – Julie and Uncle Len. Uncle Len has prostate cancer – Julie, his busy body wife, supports him (and later Kittie) in his battle with cancer.
Almar Müller portrays the role of Joubert, an ex-love who wants to support Kittie; Arno Greef is Drikus, the handsome young law student who challenges Mandy constantly and Ruan Blum is Louis, Fanie’s boyfriend.
Also look out for appearances by Anel Alexander, Zane Meas, Stiaan Smith, Francois Jacobs, Tiffany Barbuzano, Jack Devnarain, Reginah Dube, David Reese and Henriëtta Gryffenberg.
Nouvanaand Films are the producers of Tydelik Terminaal. “We are excited to have the opportunity to once again produce a light drama for kykNET. Tydelik Terminaal takes the viewer along on Kittie’s chemo journey, with a fresh approach to student life and uncomfortable identity questions.”
Tydelik Terminaal will be broadcast on Wednesday at 20:00 from 30 October 2019 on kykNET (DStv channel 144).
