THALIA TONEEL: VAN ZOEP TOT ZERO

Chiara Dover

@chiaradoverr

English translation follows

 

Ons almal ken daai gevoel waar jy deel is van ‘n inside joke en jy weet dat niemand rondom jou dit sal verstaan nie, maar die wat weet, weet. Dit is presies hoe dit gevoel het om “Van Zoep Tot Zero”, die Thalia Toneel groep se komedie, te kyk. Hierdie ligsinnige uitbeelding van die sleep koshuise konsep, wat so kenmerkend is van Potchefstroom se Noord-Wes Universiteit (NWU), kon ‘n glimlag op enige Potch student se gesig sit.

 

Op die 16de Julie 2025, met ‘n reuse rolverdeling van 16 mense, het die Thalia Toneel groep dit reggekry om werklik koshuise se gees vas te vang. Van Ysior tot Bernini, het elke oordrewe stereotipe ‘n indruk op die gehoor gemaak.

 

Nes in elke toneelstuk is daar die hoofkarakters wat eerste raakgesien word. In “Van Zoep Tot Zero” was dit die hopeloos romantieke boerseun, die kultuur boffin, die boomklim en brannewyn tomboy, die status-behepte Bernini Primaria en ons inwonende sportman, wie se enigste twee breinselle genoeg houe gekry om onvermydelik na ‘n obsessie met vloer vee te lei. Hierdie vyf vaardige akteurs en aktrises het dadelik hulself differensieer van mekaar om die wêreld vir die gehoor te skep.

 

Daar is wel so paar ondersteunende rolle wat die verhoog hulle rooi tapyt gemaak het. Frederik en Koos is so humoristies en natuurlik vertolk dat een kyk in hulle rigting die gehoor kon laat uitbars van die lag. Die gehoor kan heel eerlik wees dat Koos en Kris se vinnige en diepe verhouding iets was wat ons almal wou hê. So ook die sarkastiese narrator wie se komediese tydsberekening elke keer perfek was.

 

Verder was daar twee ander karakters wat uitgestaan het. Dr. Van Zyl, die gesagsfiguur en enigste volwassene in die toneelstuk, was sagkuns, maar tog ‘n outoriteit bo die koshuis lede. Die bohemian hippie, Katja, het ook die gehoor see harte gesteel. Wanneer sy aggressiewe leiding neem en uit haar karakter se normale ingesteldheid uitkom, dui dit op die komediese en toneelspel vaardighede van die aktrise.

 

Die Thalia Toneel groep se komedie vanjaar was ‘n toneelstuk wat jou laat terug dink het aan jou groentjie konsert dae, inside jokes, stereotipes en ‘n oordrewe storielyn wat jy net kan volg as jy werklik die koshuis kultuur in Potchefstroom verstaan. Ons haal ons hoed af vir die akteurs en die karakterverdeling. Ons sien uit na 2026 se produksie!

 

 

Teksversorging deur Simoné de Witt

 

 

English Translation:

 

We all know that feeling where you are part of an inside joke, and you know that no one around you will understand it, but those who know, know. That is exactly how it felt to watch “Van Zoep Tot Zero“, Thalia Toneel‘s comedy. This light-hearted portrayal of the sleep residences concept that is so characteristic of Potchefstroom’s North-West University (NWU) could put a smile on any Potch student’s face.

 

On the 16th of July 2025, with a large cast of 16 people, the Thalia Toneel group managed to truly capture the spirit of residences. From Ysior to Bernini, each exaggerated stereotype made an impression on the audience.

 

As in every play, there are the main characters who are seen first. In “Van Zoep Tot Zero,” it was the hopeless romantic farmer boy, the culture boffin, the tree-climbing and brandy-drinking tomboy, the status-obsessed Bernini Primaria, and our resident athlete with only two working brain cells. These five skilled actors and actresses immediately differentiated themselves from one another to create the scene for the audience.

 

There are indeed a few supporting roles that have made the stage their red carpet. Frederik and Koos are so funny and naturally portrayed that a glance in their direction could make the audience burst out laughing. The audience can honestly say that Koos and Kris’s quick and deep relationship was something we all wanted. Likewise, the sarcastic narrator’s comedic timing was perfect every time.

 

Furthermore, there were two other characters that stood out. Dr. Van Zyl, the authority figure and only adult in the play, was kind-hearted but still an authority over the residence members. The bohemian hippie, Katja, also stole the audience’s hearts. When she takes charge and deviates from her character’s normal disposition, it highlights the comedic and acting skills of the actress.

 

The Thalia Toneel group’s comedy this year was a play that made you think back to your groentjie concert days, inside jokes, stereotypes, and an exaggerated storyline that you can only follow if you truly understand the residence culture in Potchefstroom. We salute the actors and the character divisions and look forward to the 2026 production!

 

 

Translated by Simoné de Witt