This coming Monday, 1 June 2009 SAFM takes a blast-to-radio's-past with the launch of a contemporary, daily radio soapie called Whatyamacallit!
The episodes are 15-minutes each and run Mondays to Fridays at 15h45.
The show has been created by playwright and stage veteran Paul Slabolepszy (Bill Flynn's long-time writing partner) and features the voices of Samson Kumalo, Michael Richard, Louise Saint-Claire, Quanita Adams, Graham Hopkins, Mpho Osei-Tutu, Molefi Monaisa, Doctor Khasu-Nkatlo and Huey Louw. It is directed by Bruce Miller.
The premise of the show: the action takes place at a community radio station in the eastern suburbs of Johannesburg. The station is the brain-child of two of the lead characters who go by the names of Doc Sibiya and Denton Farr-Douglas.
The studio has been set up in a small, run-down house with the assistance of local Asian businessman - shop owner, Anil Watakananda, who wants nothing from the venture other than to promote his "business interests", advertise his merchandise and, to feature from time to time on the Station as an ‘artiste’.
In due course, Radio Watakananda (or Radio Whatyamacallit! – as it becomes known) receives its broadcasting licence and the station thrives. As things unfold the characters are faced with challenges and their fortunes become determined by the fluctuating fortunes of the radio.
The show premieres in the first few weeks of the fledgling station’s existence. Anil Watakananda has funded the enterprise, making huge ‘sacrifices’ to keep it up and running. Denton Farr-Douglas (who wears two hats - station programmer as well as drama director) struggles to cope with the demands of broadcasting 16 hours a day.
Two married members of the team are in the middle of a messy trial separation and another member's struggling with depression and thinking about suicide.
Overall, a second world will be created through the show so that the station covers music, news, human interest stories and music and food shows, through the soapied eyes and experiences of the characters.
Sort of like a parallel radio-wave universe, that really exists but doesn't - unless you've actually been there - which is possible, if you can find the window to get in.
(Forgive us, we've been watching too much
Fringe.)