(Mpume Mthombeni and Loretta Green play hairdressers in “Eh Heh”. Photo by Val Adamson)Gagasi 99.5FM launches Eh Heh, its hot new radio soapie.
While many may think the golden age of South African radio dramas ended decades ago, the truth is the medium is enjoying a resurge in popularity. A key figure in this renaissance is local award-winning writer Clinton Marius, whose hugely successful radio soapie, Lollipop Lane, broadcast daily for four years on LotusFM, clocking up a record-breaking 820 episodes, while gathering an army of fans around the country.
Now Marius is back in a brand new collaboration with charismatic radio presenter Zookey, who has her own show on Gagasi 99.5FM. She also runs a social support network of workshops that deal with inter-cultural challenges and personal issues.
Marius and Zookey have joined forces to create a new comedy serial called Eh Heh, that will bring radio drama to an entirely new audience.
Set in a hair and beauty salon, Eh Heh features a group of lovable characters performed by a team of KZN’s top radio actors, including Mpume Mthombeni, Loretta Green, Shika Budhoo, Dhaveshan Govender and Pauline Dalais, among others.
The soapie will also host regular guest appearances by South African celebrities and industry leaders, while covering a diverse range of subjects, including art, fashion, music and lifestyle.
“Developing a positive vibe for creative people to flourish in is something that excites me,” says live-wire arts activist Zookey, whose idea it was to launch the new soapie. “Tapping into Clinton Marius’s creative skills and marrying them with my own, our new series on Gagasi 99.5FM will carry an element of edutainment, using satire, comedy and drama to deal with social ills and situations. I believe such commentary done in a fun manner is the best teacher in life.”
Clinton Marius admits that reaching a predominantly Zulu-speaking audience is a new direction for him. “This collaboration with Zookey is perfect,” he says, “and together we have created an entertaining and funny communication style in ‘Zunglish’.”
Eh Heh is directed by show business veteran, Caroline Smart, who has been involved with radio drama for more than 30 years: “I am delighted that Gagasi has recognised the immense value of radio drama, both as an exciting medium for listeners and a challenging medium for actors,” she says. “I am really looking forward to the growth of this collaboration.”
The first episode of Eh Heh will be broadcast on April 15, 2012, at 22h00 on Gagasi 99.5FM, and thereafter on Thursdays at 19h00, and Sundays at 22h00.
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