Albert Pretorius on Die Kantoor, SA’s re-imagining of The Office

Showmax has just dropped the first trailer for Die Kantoor, the South African adaptation of global hit format The Office, licensed by BBC Studios.

Watch the trailer for Die Kantoor

kykNET will preview the first episode at 8PM this Sunday, 18 January, ahead of the Showmax double-bill premiere on Tuesday, 20 January, followed by an episode a week on both platforms.

The trailer gives South Africans their first taste of 2025 Fleur du Cap and Woordfees winner Albert Pretorius (Niggies; Nêrens, Noord-Kaap) as Flip, the manager at polony distributors Deluxe Processed Meats.

We caught up with Albert to find out more about his biggest TV role yet.

The manager is an iconic role that earned both Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell their first Golden Globes, as David Brent in the British version and Michael Scott in the US version, respectively. Did you feel the pressure?

Yes, it’s a scary one; this is one of the dream ones. Very few people ever get to play a role this big. 

Tell us about Flip.

leur du Cap winner Albert Pretorius as office manager Flip in Die Kantoor

Flip thinks of himself as the Rassie Erasmus of polony; in his mind, the documentary crew is making his Chasing the Sun, about how he’s taking this team to the next level. 

He grew up watching Leon Schuster, so he also loves candid camera pranks and is trying to bring those into the documentary too.

He’s grappling with what it means to be a man – an Afrikaans man – but he doesn’t realise that a lot of the qualities he aspires to are archaic. Or that he actually has very few of them. That’s where the comedy lies, because he tries so bloody hard just to be liked. 

Isn’t that what cringe is? People trying their best by being the absolute worst.

What was your first impression when you read the script for the first time?

I was sent one monologue first, without context, and my immediate reaction was: “We cannot say any of this.”

What made you agree to the role then?

When I read the full scripts, I realised there’s a lot of idiocy, but there’s also a lot of heart and relatability.

There’s some inappropriate stuff. On the first day, Bennie actually said to the cast and crew, “Listen, Flip has no filter but Albert is the sweetest man. Whatever comes out of his mouth over the next seven weeks, don’t be offended.”

But when Flip says something rough, there’s usually a glance to camera, or he catches himself or one of the other characters is flabbergasted. So there’s commentary on the inappropriateness too.

Were you a fan of The Office before you started shooting?

I watched the UK version in drama school at UCT and didn’t realise it was fake for the first 15 minutes. Then I was like, “You guys! Oh, wow; okay, okay, this is genius.”

I loved it so much that I refused to watch the American version at first. But that one carried me through Covid. They’re very different but both brilliant.

Which did you prefer?

I can’t say. I love the cringe of the UK one and the heart of the American one. I love Ricky Gervais: he’s the original and it’s his brainchild. But there’s also something about Steve Carrel, and I think his relationship with Holly is one of the most beautiful romances in the history of TV. 

Which one is Die Kantoor closest to?

We have our own sense of humour, so ours is different from both. It’s not quite the UK cringe or as over-the-top as the American humour. It’s something else again. 

You worked with a strong ensemble cast. Did they really have to stay at their desks like background extras even when they weren’t in a scene?

Yes. The cameras could catch them at any moment, so they had to stay in character. It helped so much; it really made it feel like an office.

They had a lot of time though. Ilse [Oppelt] actually taught herself to draw and on the final shoot day, she gave each cast and crew member a drawing she’d made. 

I’m sure there were times when they felt like, “Today, I'm just a background actor.” But when you watch the first episode, there's so many cutaways that you realise Flip does a lot of the talking but it's 100% ensemble. It's Joanne giving a look; it's Gavin taking a photo of a rant; it’s Joubert raising an eyebrow – that’s what really sells it. 

Outside of Die Kantoor, what does 2026 have in store for you?

I've just moved into a new house with my fiancée, I’m turning 40, and I'm getting married, so at the moment, my big focus is my guest list. I’m also shooting a short film and prepping for another performance of Ek Is Nie Danie.

While you wait for the South African version in January, binge the American version of  The Office S1-9 and its spinoff The Paper on Showmax.

About The Office

More than 20 years ago the world was introduced to the wonderfully bleak mockumentary world of The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. MetaCritic lists the original British version as the best-reviewed comedy series of all time, while the American version won five Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and was the most streamed show in the world in 2020. 

This universal appeal has seen the BAFTA- and Golden Globe-winning cult comedy remade for audiences around the world; the South African edition is its 14th adaptation.

Rapid Blue, part of BBC Studios, is producing the Showmax Original, with SAFTA and Silwerskerm winner Bennie Fourie (Hotel) as the head writer and director. BBC Studios is handling global sales.

In addition to Pretorius, the cast includes SAFTA winner Schalk Bezuidenhout (Kanarie, Hotel), screen legend Lida Botha (Die Kwiksilvers), Carl Beukes (Jozi, The Shakedown), Silwerskerm winner Ilse Oppelt (Oh Schuks I’m Gatvol, Fishy Fêshuns), Daniah de Villiers (Mia in Mia and the White Lion), Mehboob Bawa (Bhai in Bhai’s Cafe), former KFM presenter Sipumziwe Lucwaba, and newcomer Gert du Plessis.