Stripped Banner

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.

This audio drama podcast premieres in days hours time.

Enjoy listening to Stripped, South Africa's first feature-length audio drama podcast

Click Thomas's name in the widget below to stay updated with his latest tracks and inspiring stories. Click the SoundCloud logo in the top right corner to like, leave your comments, and share your thoughts. Click the share button to let your friends discover Thom's extensive work. Every share helps amplify his voice and message.

Stripped's script, written by Hendrik Baird and co-authored by Thomas Budge, is a finalist in the Unspecified Category of the Writers Guild of South Africa (WGSA) Muse Awards 2024.
Writer's Guild of Southern Africa

Every share helps amplify Thom's voice and message

  Historical Foundations of Stripped

  The Driving Power

  Bonus Material

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.

  Treat this like a movie night

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.

  Gather snacks and drinks

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.

  Use ear- or headphones

For the best experience, use ear- or headphones. The rich sound design and intimate dialogue will be much more impactful this way.

  Get comfortable

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.

  Keep tissues handy

Stripped touches on deep emotions and may bring a tear to your eye. Be prepared for a powerful experience.

  Listen in one sitting

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.

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Bruce J. Little
as Thomas Budge
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John Herbert
as Erith Budge
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Tessa Jubber
as Yvonne Budge
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Dawid Minnaar
as Captain Nel
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Werner Botes
as Sgt. Vermaak
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Almar Müller
Lt. Jacques Engelen
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Henri Strauss
as Stefan
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Scott Paton-Levin
as Chris
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Francois Coertze
as Corporal
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Errol Ballantine
as Elder 1
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David C. Steyn
as Elder 2
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Nj Hourquebie
as Prisoner 1
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Kevin Narain
as Prisoner 2
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Nico Loubser
as Magistrate

The Baird Media Production Team

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Hendrik Baird
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Ethan Baird

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

Let Thomas address your special-interest group

Invite Thomas to address your special-interest group by sending us an email detailing your proposal. Either click BOOKMARKSCONTACT US located at the top of this page, or by filling in and sending the email form in the page footer. We will contact you as soon as possible to make arrangements.

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It Is What It Is: Grace through Acceptance by Thomas Budge

Thomas' autobiography that inspired Stripped.

It Is What It Is: Grace through acceptance

Buy your copy today

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Publicity

Leading articles, podcasts, interviews and listener comments

Fine Music Radio

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.


Copyright 2024

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.



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