| Backstage | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Soap opera |
| Starring | Charl Timotheus Michelle Levin Nqoba Ngcobo Nqoba Ngcobo Carmel Fisher Mari Michael Lorcia Cooper David Dukas Nokuthula Ledwaba Doctor Khasu-Nkatlo Tahiri Duke Motlante Loyiso Mangena Godfrey Lekala Leroy Gopal Tselane Tambo Quincy Myeza Boshadi Nkomo Sello Motloung Baby Cele Thahira Syed Amu Muyanga Lehlohonolo Makoko Grace Mahlaba Ryan Laatz Duncan Lawson Mpho Malatsi Tessa Jubber Salamina Mphelo Sindi Khambule Mandla Hlatshwayo Tshepo Mosese Phuti Mngqibisa Nonkululeko Ndlovu Katlego Danke Thobi Mkhwanazi Antonio Summerton Paul du Toit KB Motsilanyane Krijay Govender Shashi Naidoo Speedy Mpho Joseph Molepo Henré Pretorius Gordon van der Spuy Dini Nondumo Rantsatsi Rantsatsi Pam Andrews Pepi Khambule Casey B. Dolan Luzuko Nkqeto André Jacobs |
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | approx. 30 minuntes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | E.tv |
| Picture format | PAL |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original run | 2000-05-01 - 2007-07-06 – Present |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Backstage 2000-2007 |
| Followed by | Backstage 2009 to present |
Contents |
Backstage is a South African youth-targeted soap opera produced by Bottom Line Productions. The story is set at Vulindlela College. The school is a performing arts college for youth in Johannesburg.
The series originally aired on E.tv from 1 May 2000 to 6 July 2007 showing in weekdays at 18h 30. The show was later cancelled and aired it last broadcast on the 6th of July 2007.
A rebroadcast of Backstage premiered on E.tv on Monday 5 January 2009, at 16h40. Till present Backstage airs daily from 16h40 - 17h10.
Backstage is a youth-soap opera in which kids from a host of background in South Africa come to a college of perdorming arts in downtown Johannesburg. The story follows a host of characters as they experinece the trials and tribulations of performers all trying to be the best. The show business they are involved in sees them deal with musicians, dancers and film makers alike. Besides school and the pressures it brings the story also revolves the plot around the personal life of the student dealing with love, passion and betrayal throughout the plot.
We see the head of the college is Ipeleng Theledi dealing with the stresses of running a professional college and dealing with the personal lives of the other charcacter, mainly the students. We also see the lecturers who assist her mainly being Katlego Rathebe, Naomi Singh, Sebastian Young, Charmaine Jacobs and Keketso Chaka.
E.tv cancelled the first running of Backstage in 2007.
According to the channel the reason for cancelling the show is that "modern youth culture is dynamic and ever evolving, and it is the right time to adapt to these fresh challenges as well as the changing television market."[1]
According to Deon Opperman of Bottom Line Productions, the producers of the show, the time is right for the channel "to aggressively compete in this primetime slot."[2]
The reason for cancellation may have arisen from the stiff competition given to Backstage by SABC 1's TAKE 5 and SABC 2's highly popular 7de Laan and even more pooular SABC 3's Isidingo.