Cast of ‘Adulting’ describe bromance they share in new Showmax show

Billed as the “bromance of the decade”, Adulting is now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Monday.

The eight-part 18SN drama follows four varsity friends, whose strong bond has held them together even as their journeys in life have taken them in very different directions. As they try to find love and success in Johannesburg after university, they turn to each other for support.

Thembinkosi Mthembu stars as Bonga, the overachiever in the friendship group.

“He’s a guy who goes after what he wants in life, who likes his friends, family and girls, though he doesn’t believe in love,” says Thembinkosi. “He’s at a stage in his life where things are changing for him, as he’s bidding on an R80m contract.”

In contrast, Luthando BU Mthembu is Vuyani, a toy boy reliant on his sugar mama, Beth played by Safta nominee Winnie Ntshaba.

“He’s a slay king; his face is his business,” says BU. “He’s not too serious; he might take something that’s very serious and make it light. I think people will relate to his playfulness; I feel like everybody at some point was fun and not too deep.”

Nhlanhla Kunene is hot-headed bad-boy Eric, trying to be a good father with limited access to his daughter, while Thabiso Rammusi is Mpho, a family man having an affair.

“You know after varsity, life divides you, as you get different jobs and move in different directions,” says Thabiso. “But because of the bromance these guys have, they’ve still there for each other. The connection these brothers have isn’t common in society these days.”

“It was a beautiful bromance on set,” says Nhlanhla. “We have a lot of fun together so that comes across on screen. At the same time, every character is going through something. And the only way they find comfort is when they come together and share their experiences. No matter what happens, we have each other's back, we hear each other, and we’ll tell each other straight. So that’s also where that bromance comes in.”

Jumping from amapiano clubs to G-Wagon showrooms and from bedrooms to boardrooms, this season also features Sikelelwa Vuyeleni as Eric’s baby mama; Lungile Duma as Mpho’s wife; and newcomer Londeka Shishi as Bonga’s love interest.

Adulting is the first Showmax Original from Tshedza Pictures, the production company behind the International Emmy-nominated telenovela The River and the Safta Best TV Drama winner The Republic. Tshedza Pictures’ co-founders Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon have won five Best Scriptwriting Safta awards in the last four years.

Thembinkosi praises Adulting’s scripts. “Every scene is funny and well-written, the pace is quick, and the scripts don’t sugarcoat anything; there’s no filter,” he says.