When you mention “podcast” in South Africa, the image that often comes to mind is an interview. Yet, the team at Baird Media is challenging this norm with South Africa’s first feature-length audio drama podcast.
Stripped delves into the true story of Thomas Budge, a courageous young man who, in 1971, bravely defied conscription into the apartheid military due to his unwavering religious convictions. Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, Thomas staunchly adhered to the teachings instilled by his mother and the organisation’s elders, steadfastly opposing the idea of bearing arms.
His principled stance led to imprisonment in the now-demolished Military Detention Barracks (DB) in Voortrekkerhoogte (Thaba Tshwane) in Pretoria, where he spent most of his sentence in solitary confinement. Only through his father’s persistent letter-writing campaign and subsequent changes in legislation did Thomas find liberation, albeit after enduring immense personal sacrifices.
This untold apartheid narrative, adapted from Thomas W.E. Budge’s autobiography It Is What It Is: Grace Through Acceptance (2013), has now being brought to life in the audio drama podcast Stripped, helmed by writer and director Hendrik Baird.
The pivotal role of Thomas will be portrayed by the versatile Bruce J. Little, known for his work as an actor, playwright, and writer.
He is joined by Tessa Jubber as his mother Yvonne and John Herbert as Erith, his father.
The cast includes renowned actors such as Dawid Minnaar, Errol Ballantine, Francois Coertze, and John Herbert, joined by rising stars Werner Botes, Almar Müller, Kevin Narain, Henri Strauss, and others.
Hendrik Baird, who is also a co-producer of this project, says: “Podcasting can be so much more than just interviews. I think especially older people in South Africa miss the stories broadcast on the old Springbok Radio, while a younger audience is hungry for new audio content. We identified a gap in the market and are enormously proud to present the first of what we hope to be many local stories using the podcast medium.”
In a deliberate effort to ensure authenticity, Hendrik Baird sought to cast gay-identifying actors in key roles to portray gay characters. He underscores the significance of honouring Thomas’s narrative by authentically representing his journey through the voices of those who share similar identities and experiences.
Stripped confronts several themes, including blind faith and its consequences, the influence of religious cults on individuals, familial bonds strained by religious doctrine, and the ramifications of exposing a person’s sexuality against their will.
The narrative holds particular resonance for ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses who have faced being disfellowshipped and shunned. Additionally, the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters serve as both a historical testament to the treatment of gay individuals during apartheid and a stark reminder of ongoing intolerance within certain sectors of society.
“Stripped is a story that I must tell,” says Thomas Budge, “not only to expose the world to these doctrines but to provide encouragement to the many, many victims of marginalisation, victimisation, and expulsion from society because they had no say over their difference from what some consider to be the norm. This is not only relevant for those who have or have had a connection to the Watchtower Society but also for everyone who was persecuted and deprived of their basic human rights.”
The production journey has been particularly emotional for Thomas, as it has opened old emotional wounds. He says that “Stripped is a true account of being peeled away from oneself, pulled from one’s right to be who one is, having one’s clothing taken away, having one’s freedom removed by being placed into solitary confinement, and worst of all, being stripped of one’s right to associate with family.”
The recording was made at Solid Gold Studios in Randburg and Ethan Baird is responsible for the sound design. He has meticulously crafted an immersive auditory experience for listeners.
The podcast’s official launch is scheduled to coincide with Heritage Day on Tuesday 24 September 2024.
Upon release, Stripped will be accessible on the website startlivingmy.life/stripped and all podcast platforms. The website will offer supplementary materials, including historical photographs, press clippings, and letters penned by Thomas’s father.
For updates and additional content, follow the project’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
