Remaining true to oneself, especially in the face of adversity
They stripped him of his freedom, his clothes, his dignity, his faith and his family but they could not strip him of his humanity.
A groundbreaking audio drama podcast with a stellar cast recreates an obscure and almost forgotten chapter in South Africa's apartheid history, imparting hope and determination to today's youth who face bigotry and find it difficult to navigate a course through a non-inclusive world. Stripped is the true story of Thomas W. E. Budge, a young gay Jehovah's Witness boy growing up in apartheid South Africa in the early 1970s, who defied conscription into the apartheid military resulting in imprisonment and solitary confinement, and who grappled with reconciling his sexuality with the strict doctrines of the Watchtower Society, which sought to dominate him and his family.
Enjoy listening to Stripped, South Africa's first feature-length audio drama podcast
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Category: Produced New Media (Podcast) Script.
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Historical Foundations of Stripped
Six steps to make the most of your listening experience
Get ready to dive into Stripped, an emotional and immersive 90-minute audio drama that deserves your full attention.
Find a cosy spot where you won't be disturbed for the next hour and a half. This is your time, so make it comfortable.
Just like settling in for a film, have your favourite snacks and drinks within reach. You won't want to pause once the story pulls you in.
For the best experience, use ear- or headphones. The rich sound design and intimate dialogue will be much more impactful this way.
Whether you're on the couch, in bed, or in your favourite chair, make sure you're comfortable. This is a journey you'll want to fully immerse yourself in.
Stripped touches on deep emotions and may bring a tear to your eye. Be prepared for a powerful experience.
The drama is designed to be experienced in one go, so let yourself be carried away by the story without interruptions.
Enjoy the experience!
Meet the Principle Actors
Meet the cast of this powerful production comprising both seasoned veterans and promising newcomers.
Click through to each actor's private page for much more info.
as Thomas Budge
as Erith Budge
as Yvonne Budge
as Captain Nel
as Sgt. Vermaak
Lt. Jacques Engelen
as Stefan
as Chris
as Corporal
as Elder 1
as Elder 2
as Prisoner 1
as Prisoner 2
as Magistrate
The Baird Media Production Team
Are you needing help?
Thomas is no stranger to overcoming life's challenges, and understands that many people have faced difficult experiences in their lives, such as sexual abuse, bullying, shunning or marginalisation. If you are currently facing challenges related to past experiences and would like support, Thom is ready to help you. He is your number one go-to-guy for expert help embracing a non-heterosexual identity, if you are seeking and exploring safer ways out of oppressive regimes and belief systems, or if you are ready to make positive changes in life.
Thomas consults globally online, and also offers limited face-to-face, private, in-person sessions in Switzerland and South Africa.
Reserve your private consultation with Thomas Budge
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It Is What It Is: Grace through Acceptance
by Thomas Budge
Thomas' autobiography that inspired Stripped.
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Publicity
Leading articles, podcasts, interviews and listener comments
Radio interview with Werner Botes who plays Sergeant Vermaak in Stripped.
I settled down this afternoon to listen to your podcast. Knowing you as well as l do it was quite a revelation to listen to the truly humiliating experiences you endured to be true to yourself. To be disowned by your family in favour of religion is inhuman, heartless and absurd. I hope they now appreciate you for the generous man that you are. Your experience at the hands of the SADF is both vile and contemptible and makes me wonder how any of us survived military training in SA.
The play is riveting to listen to, with the actors very convincing in their roles. The dialogue is very believable and spoken with commitment to the life story they are telling. Sound effects and music reinforce the drama and makes the time changes very clear.
You have my love and admiration for being proud as a gay man and standing up for your rights. I look forward to hearing the reaction from the listening public.
Congratulations!!
Allen Auld, host the SABC TV Magazine show Collage in the mid-1980s, which covered a variety of cultural and entertainment topics.
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All Rights Reserved
This podcast is the intellectual property of Thomas W.E. Budge and Baird Media. All rights reserved. The content, including but not limited to audio, text, graphics, and images, is protected by copyright laws. Listeners are welcome to enjoy this podcast for personal, non-commercial use only. Any unauthorised reproduction, redistribution, modification, or transmission of this podcast, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of Thomas W.E. Budge and Baird Media is strictly prohibited. For inquiries regarding licensing or permission to use content from this podcast, please contact us at Baird Media.