Season 1
The Riviera is a South African comedy-drama television series that explores the complexities of growing up in Cape Town during the 1980s.
The series is set in the year 1989 and revolves around the experiences of a 12-year-old Muslim girl, Riana Isaacs, growing up on the Cape Flats.
While the country and the world are in dramatic upheaval, Riana innocently sets out to achieve her own personal milestones: become head girl in her final year at Catholic primary school, star in the school play and make the boy of her dreams fall in love with her.
Riana (Kelly Damon) is the first born, eldest child of Nazeem "The Naz" Isaacs and Lemeez "Liz" Isaacs. Her mother converted to Islam to marry her father, but is still called Liz by everyone, including The Naz.
She has a younger brother Reza with whom she shares a bedroom. They share the house with Liz's mother, Ma B, who is a devout Anglican. The Isaacs are a practicing muslim family.
Riana lives in Lotus River on the Cape Flats, affectionately and rather glamourously referred to as The Riviera. Half Riana's family are Muslim and the other half are Christian.
It has made her tolerant of both religions, though this often puts her at odds with her family or religious instructors.
Riana's younger brother Reza (Abdul Abrahams) has a penchant for things that go bang - he can often be seen carrying dry twigs and leaves into corners, along with flint, pool chemicals and more often than not firecrackers.
Reza is very good looking and possessed of a natural and easy attractiveness that showed itself from a very early age. It could prove to be a blessing and a curse.
Naz (Keenan Arrison) is an arc welder by trade - a designer, engineer, master craftsman and general 80's TV dad by nature. He is the head of the household, even though he knows he's not the one running the show.
Blanche Brown, or Ma B (Margie Pankhurst) as she is known, is the matriarch of the family and lives with the Isaacs' in their home in Lotus River.
She is loved and feared by everyone, in spite of being five-foot nothing and weighing all of 45kgs. She is a devout Christian and every Sunday the clip clop of her heels can be heard marching off to church.
Most significantly, and yet almost negligibly Ma B is white. In 1989 any talk of living in contravention of the group areas act was dangerous. Ma B lived out her life with her new Muslim family with a love that was fiercely protective.
In the series premiere, "Clean Slate": It is the first day of Riana's final year of primary school. As a Muslim attending a Catholic school, she is used to feeling somewhat out of place.
Making matters worse, her favourite teacher has been removed from the school.
But when a new boy, Carlo, joins her class Riana falls instantly and hopelessly in love.
Created and narrated by Quanita Adams, whose own life inspired the story, The Riviera introduces Kelly Damon as Riana and stars Keenan Arrison as Naz and Chantal Herman as Liz, the parents of the culturally blended Isaacs family.
The Riviera is produced by Community Media Trust. The executive producer and director is Lucilla Blankenberg.
The theme song, "Give a Little Love", was written by Chris Schilder and performed by Pacific Express and Zayn Adams.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Kelly Damon ... Riana Isaacs
Keenan Arrison ... Naz Isaacs
Chantal Herman ... Liz Isaacs
Abdul Abrahams ... Reza Isaacs
Margie Pankhurst ... Ma B
Recurring / Guests
Quanita Adams ... Narrator (voice)
Maurice Carpede ... Mr Fielies
Bianca Flanders ... Ms Adams
Keeno Lee Hector ... Boeta Noor
Aisha Nel ... Malika
Chloe Black ... Shelley
Jaiden Dankers ... Natasha
Pavan Naidoo ... Carlo
Molly Pankhurst ... Sister Francis
Akram Allie ... Ghalifa
Jordan Dietrich ... Owen
Deon de Waal ... Karl the German
Aaliyah Botha ... Learner
Yaseen Gabriels ... Learner
Nabiha Gamieldien ... Learner
Leben Jaftha ... Learner / Jonathan
Ammaarah Lakay ... Learner
Moethaqir Manuel ... Learner
Fatima Mansoor ... Learner
Nadheerah Mansoor ... Learner
Leatitia Solomons ... Amina (as Letitia Solomons)
Zain Mia ... Wafiq
Wendall Matino ... Bradley
Silvia Esau ... Joanie Botbyl (as Sylvia Esau)
Jonty Isaacs ... Dale Botbyl
Andre Samuels ... Merv Botbyl
Maggie Waumsley ... Sister Michael
Angelo Johannes ... Dirkie / Geronimo
Rudy Visagie ... Angry Resident
Tristram Atkins ... Undercover Cop
Gershwin Mias ... Cliff Botbyl
Gerrit Nel ... Kat (as Gerit Nel)
John Philander ... Angry Neighbour
Valda Philander ... Angry Neighbour
Adrian Hage ... Romeo
Moewada Abrahams ... Tennis Player
Aashiqah Alexanderz ... Tennis Player
Adenaan Allie ... Tennis Player
Fuaad Cupido ... Tennis Player
Mika Daugberg ... Tennis Player
Thoelkiel Hendricks ... Tennis Player
Miyanda Kazoka ... Tennis Player
Kiya Prinsloo ... Tennis Player
Lance Elliot ... Security Guard
Monique Rockman ... Jenny
Kim Floris ... Learner
Ikeraam Frieslaar ... Learner
Tyler Johnson ... Learner
Sachin Klein ... Learner
Alex van Schoor ... Learner
Moewada Abrahams ... Parent
Shanaaz Cupido ... Parent
Raquel Palmer ... Parent
Joshua Vraagom ... Brommer
Anwar van Wyk ... Scoundrel 1
Tyreeq du Plessis ... Scoundrel 2
Viona Toloi ... Aunty Faatie
Jane-Neil Michael ... School Receptionist
Robin Pieters ... Uncle Adnaan
Madison Damon ... Munchkin
Caleb Nel ... Munchkin
Ezrah Palmer ... Munchkin
Dikatso Pule ... Munchkin
Sidney Botha ... Inspector