“It’s going to keep people on the edge of their seats” – Jane de Wet on Trompoppie

Trompoppie is now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Thursday until 8 February 2024. 

When Luna, a talented gymnast, is awarded a bursary to a prestigious private school she could never afford, she is thrust into the cut-throat world of an elite group of drum majorettes, aka “trompoppies”. After a hazing ritual goes badly wrong, trompoppies start turning up dead and the seemingly perfect facade of the community begins to crumble.  

Watch the trailer for Trompoppie

After her breakthrough role as Lexi in the Showmax Original The Girl from St Agnes, Jane de Wet has gone from strength to strength, picking up a SAFTA nomination for Griekwastad, starring in Spoorloos: Steynhof, and impressing in the stage production of Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize-winning novel, The Promise. 

She tells us more about her latest character, Valerie, and her time on the set of Trompoppie.

What did you know about drum majorettes before you got involved with the show?

Not much! Thankfully, Trompoppie combines the concept of drum majorettes with traditional cheerleading – something I do happen to be well-versed in. I was a cheerleader for the DHL Stormers and the IPL in India in 2018 and have done my fair share of corporate dance work, very much in the style of Trompoppie. As a trained dancer, I am all too familiar with the dynamics of a dance group – how familial, yet dysfunctional and toxic it can be. Trompoppie makes no bones about showcasing these complexities, which I really love. 

Tell us more about your character.

When we first meet Valerie, she is a fairly conservative, yet popular, young girl. She is 17 years old, with a bright future ahead of her. She is also very loyal to her friends. Having walked a few miles together, there is a strong bond between them. Then, when the hazing ritual goes wrong, Valerie is thrown off balance. She discovers a side of herself that she didn’t know existed, and I think that makes her a little afraid of herself. She was always very black and white, but her boundaries and morals start to erode as she fends for herself and her friends in the protection of their secret. 

How did the series challenge you?

In a personal capacity, I was challenged by the fact that we were shooting at night most of the time (and in the middle of winter). My body clock struggled to adjust, leaving me sleep deprived (and cold) for a number of weeks. However, exhaustion sometimes creates an interesting platform for an uninhibited performance, which can be good. In terms of my character, I was challenged by her age – to remain and respond within the emotional and mental parameters of a 17-year-old, to whom everything feels like the end of the world.   

What was the highlight for you?

Ironically, my highlight and my low point are one and the same: the cold. It was the middle of winter and we were shooting barefoot outside in the mud. We suffered – to the point of hilarity, which makes it some of my favourite memories too. In order to cope with our conditions, we joked and laughed A LOT. The love and good energy among us made it bearable. As they say, those who suffer together, stick together. 

Why should people watch Trompoppie?

Trompoppie is entertaining and it’s going to keep people on the edge of their seats. There is not a moment where a viewer can possibly be bored; it has a fast pace and there is always a lot at stake. 

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