Get the family back together

MAKE IT A DATE: PERMISSION TO BE COUCH POTATOES

‘Summertide’ a M-Net drama and an escape before tackling a new week.

The (summer) tide’s coming in… Summertide, a multi-generational drama on M-Net, tells the story of a marine biologist and father of two children, Martin Field (Frank Rautenbach), who moves to idyllic False Bay after the death of his wife, Julia (Amalia Uys).

The family has already been introduced in a series of promos – they include Martin’s parents, Wilma (Terry Norton) and Jack Field (Andre Jacobs), the latter a retired naval commander who runs his household like a military operation, and the Field children – Tristan (Jan Combrink) and Lucy (Evangelina Hallock), who must cope with the loss of a parent and moving to a new town on top of the usual stresses of school.

Martin’s youngest brother, Gavin (Ty Keogh), is a retired pro surfer who runs a small surfboard business and lives out the back of his parents’ house.

And then there’s Rebecca Solomons (Monique Rockman), who worked as a Michelin star chef in New York – and was Martin’s first love.

The families whose lives cross the Fields’ paths and intertwine in fascinating ways are the Solomons and the Du Plessis’.

Rebecca, recently returned from the US after the death of her father, Solly, has taken over Salty’s, her family’s indebted and struggling take-away fish ’n chip shop close to the harbour.

Rebecca is constantly torn between her duty to continue her father’s legacy, a dark secret from the past holding her back and her dream of opening her own upscale restaurant in her hometown.

Rebecca’s mother, Cheryl (Euodia Samson), sees in her daughter her own tenacity and ability to dig deep to get by. She is the keeper of Rebecca’s secret and will do anything to keep it safe.

Rebecca’s Uncle Freddy (Maurice Carpede) is her father’s brother, a fisherman just like he was.

He sells fish to Salty’s at a “family rate” and is a leader in the local fisher community.

He’s seen it all, from the changes to the False Bay fishing industry, the frustrations of the new licensing agreements, fighting illegal offshore trawlers and the perpetual fight with the authorities to allow fishing quotas which produce a liveable income for his family.

Though often at odds with Rebecca, he looks out for family at all costs.

Hannes, Wesley and Yolande du Plessis (Morne Visser, Matthew

Vey and Cassiel Eatock-Winnik

respectively) cross paths with the Fields in a haze of teenage testosterone.

Hannes is a businessman with many fingers in many pies, some sweeter than others.

Vivacious Yolande is ready to start a life of adventure, but a secret puts paid to her promising dance career and colours every decision she makes.

Surfer Wesley is constantly caught between living his own carefree life and caring for his

sister.

Guilt, frustration, and an overprotective nature torment him and affect his relationship with his father and his community.

There’s an award-winning crew behind the scenes.

“The characters in Summertide are meticulously researched for depth and authenticity, and their special quality lies in their relatability – and it is this relatability that brings the story to life,” says co-producer René van Rooyen.

“The selection of our cast was a deliberate choice, and their performances convey warmth and resonate with the intricacies of family life.

“The diversity of our cast is a source of excitement, ranging from 10-year-olds to individuals in their 70s.”

Co-producer Corné van Rooyen says their goal is “to bring the entire family back together on one couch – a reminder of the Sunday nights we spent together in our youth, watching M-Net as an escape before tackling a new week”.

He says the setting for the series is a character in itself – we have a deep appreciation for the False Bay coast, where we are filming.

“This unique environment boasts a contemporary character and identity, and we believe the ocean serves as a unifying force connecting all the characters.

“Each individual, in some way, is tied to this ocean, fostering interconnected relationships and contributing to personal growth.”