BEYOND THE ALGORITHM: CHALLENGING THE MANOSPHERE

 

Beyond the Algorithm: Challenging the Manosphere.   

An ANU Wellspring Initiative lead by Leslie Barnes and in collaboration with The Street Theatre and the ANU School of Literature, Language and Linguistics. Directed by Robin Davidson. Stage Manager Rhiley Winnett. Lighting Operator Emma Burrows. Facilitators Vivian Gerrand and Robin Davidson.  Street Two. The Street Theatre. July 22^nd. 2026

Canberra Youth Theatre actors: Xavier Taylor, Ashleigh Butler, Rose Nixon-Poole, Matthew Hogan, Blue Hyslop, Disa Swifte.

Reviewed by Peter Wilkins

Robin Davidson is the Facilitator in Beyond the Algorithm: Challenging the Manosphere

 

Theatre takes many forms. Forum Theatre is interactive theatre. Conceived by Brazilian Director Augusto Boal in the 1970s Forum Theatre aims to address social, political or economic issues in order to effect change. In presenting Beyond the Algorithm: Challenging the Manosphere, Robin Davidson continues to contribute challenging and thought-provoking theatre that marked his work with actors with various differences including physical challenges and mental health issues. His work with Rebus always addressed work that would improve self esteem and confidence through theatre that enabled a positive outcome. Now retired from Rebus, Davidson continues to pursue theatre that will make a difference. Forum Theatre is such theatre as conceived by the late Augusto Boal.

L-R  Matthew Hogan as Sam. Xavier Taylor as Alex. Ashleigh Butler as Rebecca. Rose Nixon-Poole as Sarah 

 

Forum Theatre as its name suggests is the interaction between the actor and the audience whom Boal called Spectactors. The audience is invited to watch a performance by actors and then when the performance is replayed they are invited to call out STOP, assume the role of one of the actors and improvise a narrative that may change the character’s attitude and behaviour. If the suggestion takes effect the play continues until another member of the audience calls out STOP and enters the stage to offer an alternative behaviour that will ultimately contribute to change and if possible a desired outcome.

Online Manfluencers on Reddit promote Misogyny

 

Boal introduced a mediator or facilitator whom he called The Joker. Beyond the Algorithm: Challenging the Manosphere explores teenage misogyny as depicted online through text messages and Reddit Manfluencers which is then presented as live theatre through the techniques of Forum Theatre. The scenario is simple enough for an audience to feel safe to participate in the search for solutions. Alex (Xavier Taylor) and Rebecca (Ashleigh Butler) are working on a school project.  Rebecca’s friend Sarah (Rose Nixon-Poole)  tells her that Alex made sexist remarks about  a girl’s body at a party and warns Rebecca to be careful about the arsehole. Alex’s friend Sam (Matthew Hogan) reinforces misogynistic behaviour in Alex, who becomes more and more confused and is unable to seek reassurance from his father (Blue Hyslop), who is unable to communicate effectively with his son. He is rebuked by his teacher (Disa Swifte) and in turn rebukes his father for being weak and a loser, which is where the performance ends before being replayed with interactive involvement by the audience members.

Davidson advises the audience that this is an experiment in exploring the digital use of misogynistic commentary online compared to the important role that theatre has to play in confronting the issue. When Boal devised Forum Theatre, the Digital revolution had not yet begun. Can the role of Forum Theatre and its unique nature be replicated on the internet, where young people are exposed to such sites as Reddit, Meta, various social media platforms, Tik Tok, Instagram Manfluencers such as the Tate Brothers and offensive commentators such as Tommy Robinson? In the Digital Age, the need for Forum Theatre becomes even more obvious. The recent ban on social media usage by young people under the age of 16 is preventative but it does not effect a change in attitude or behaviour necessarily. That is the challenge proposed by Beyond the Algorithm: Challenging the Manosphere by confronting the issue, such as online misogyny and devising an online platform to effect change as Boal intended.

Ashleigh Butler as Rebecca. Blue Hyslop as Dad. Rose Nixon-Poole as Sarah

 

Forum Theatre may not always be entirely effective in achieving change but judging by the participants’ commitment to arrive at a solution it certainly offers eye-opening opportunities to  tackle the problem of online misogyny. Davidson avoided the dark side of misogyny online to facilitate reasoned, open debate and judging by the intense focus and constructive and effective solutions presented by an engrossed audience, Davidson’s presentation of Beyond the Algorithm: Challenging the Manosphere was theatre at its most absorbing, thought provoking and hopeful. As one audience member observed- in live theatre one is compelled to interact face to face with the person in the space.  On line communication can be distorted, avoided or misunderstood, but as the cast and the spectactors showed in this powerful theatre form Boal’s Forum Theatre performs a vital function in facilitating change, which is at the core of what Boal termed the Theatre of the Oppressed. 

Photos by Nathan Smith