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Skemerdans, the new Showmax Original, is now available to binge. Directed by Amy Jephta and Ephraim Gordon, the Cape Flats neo-noir murder mystery is set at the Oasis jazz club, the centre of a power struggle between two brothers, a scorned widow and an organised crime syndicate.
The 13-part half-hour series revolves around the Fortune family, played by SAFTA winners Kevin Smith (Isidingo, Arendsvlei), Ilse Klink (Stroomop, Isidingo) and Brendon Daniels (Four Corners, Sara se Geheim, Arendsvlei); SAFTA nominee Vinette Ebrahim (7de Laan, Binnelanders); Carmen Maarman (Arendsvlei, Lui Maar Op, Belinda); Ceagan Arendse (Suidooster, Arendsvlei), who tragically passed away in February 2021; and rising star Trudy van Rooy (Die Byl, Slot, Sara se Geheim, Projek Dina).
We caught up with Trudy to talk about her character, Jessie, who comes back to Cape Town after a stint overseas in the first episode. Jesse is the daughter of Glenn and Shireen Fortune, who own the Oasis.
How would you describe Skemerdans?
Sexy, gritty, unnerving, and deeply revealing. It's a lot of smoke and mirrors and you get to see what's going on behind the veil, which I find fascinating.
What was your experience like during the filming?
This was the first time that I, as a coloured actress, was working with a virtually all-coloured cast in a professional setting, so this was absolutely amazing.
A highlight was just to see the legends of the industry, and to get to know them as people. To work with people like Ilse [Klink] and Kevin [Smith], who I literally grew up watching as a child on Isidingo, was a full-circle moment for me.
I just came off working with Brendon Daniels on a series called Slot, which we literally wrapped the Friday and then we started on Skemerdans the Saturday. Getting to know Brendon was absolutely enriching and incredible.
There was lots of gatmaak, and lots of stories. Alistair Izobell had so many stories, I was canning myself all the time. And also Aunty Vinette [Ebrahim] was hilarious and she’s so naughty.
It was just really just one big celebration, with so much laughter, love and wisdom shared throughout that time. I really enjoyed it; it was incredible.
How would you describe your character?
I've been finding it difficult to describe Jesse because she just has so many layers, but the thing is she's young and inexperienced. She's volatile; she's a storm that's brewing. And the thing about storms is they're both captivating and frightening at the same time. And like a storm, she's out of control.
What attracted you to this role?
I wanted the opportunity to work with Amy [Jephta] and Ephraim [Gordon]. We went to university together and while I'm friends with them, I've never worked with either of them. Initially I was asked to audition for the role of Chanel, but I can't jazz.
And then I saw the part of Jesse and what I read about her I really related to. I was like, ‘Ooh, this is exciting; let's try for this.’ It was a shot in the dark, especially because I'm older in real life than Jesse is in the story. But I know Jesse. I can't say that I was Jesse, in terms of what she's experienced, but that emotional voracity, yes, I have been Jesse.
(Image: Supplied)
What was it like working with Amy Jeptha and Ephraim Gordon?
Amy is very methodical. She knows what she wants and she's got this incredible understanding of the drama of the moments in the scene, that is obviously from her theatrical background and that comes across in how she directs.
Ephraim is the same: he's got such a deep understanding of the emotions behind the words. And he has all these amazing one-liners. I told him we should make a quote book for him because honestly the things that he says are both very profound and at the same time can be quite hilarious.
They just both have such an incredible understanding of storytelling. It makes you feel so safe as an actor. It also makes you feel so courageous; they inspire a willingness to play and to go deeper.
Why do you think people should watch Skemerdans?
It's a really sexy show, in terms of just how beautifully shot it is.
The beautiful thing about being coloured is that you are connected to so many different people across the classes. You have an awareness of what is going on everywhere because you have family members or friends that are in different positions. There's a world that we haven't seen exposed on film before and this is what Skemerdans is doing. It's talking about what's happening in middle-class coloured homes. It's talking about coloured affluence. It's talking about the grit of the community, the darker side. It’s all there. And in that way, it's so unique and it must be watched because you haven't seen this on TV before. You haven't seen us represented like this before.
And you’ll want to find out who the murderer is, of course...
Binge Skemerdans first on Showmax. Subscribe from R39 per month »
