“The Discourse” Tackles Masculinity Through Theatre

Boluwatife Orimolade, founder of Ankara N Black Playhouse, has long believed in theatre as more than entertainment—it’s a mirror, a provocation, and a tool for change.

Staged in Lagos from May 16–29, the latest production, “The Discourse,” explores gender perception, with a particular focus on the realities of the boy child. The production coincides with International Boy Child Day, but as Orimolade explains, its roots run deeper than just marking a specific date.

“The inspiration for ”The Discourse” started from a desire to address gender perception itself,” he says. “Before any physical action, there’s an internal thought process that drives it. Much of what happens in our minds before it translates into action comes from deeply ingrained ideas about gender. Theatre has the unique ability to engage both the conscious and subconscious. It bypasses our filtered responses and reaches people in ways that other forms of storytelling cannot.”

Orimolade sees “The Discourse” as an opportunity to highlight how cultural influences like family upbringing, societal norms, education, and religion all shape attitudes toward gender. The production has been staged in multiple locations, from Abia State in 2017 to Lagos in 2025, always with the intent to spark conversations that challenge stereotypes.

The conversation about gender expectations is especially pressing when it comes to boys, Orimolade notes, pointing to troubling global trends. “We are at an age where identity crises, societal expectations, stereotypes, and labels heavily affect young men. Many cultures expect men to solve all their own problems and endure difficulties without breaking. But the truth is, before a man is a man, he is human—just like a woman.”

Theatre, according to him, provides a powerful platform to dismantle toxic masculinity and challenge the pressures boys face. “Men are often silenced about their struggles. I saw rising cases of suicide, especially in Nigeria post-COVID, where more men than women have taken their own lives. Why? Because they were failing to meet unrealistic expectations and felt they couldn’t talk about it without being emasculated.”

Through “The Discourse”, Orimolade seeks to highlight the emotional burden men carry which is one that often leads to self-destruction. The production doesn’t just explore societal pressures; it examines how parenting contributes to these realities, emphasizing the need for more balanced gender awareness.

“The performances themselves break conventions,” Orimolade explains. “This isn’t a linear story. ”The Discourse” weaves together thirteen different narratives, each reflecting real-life experiences. Some stories come from interviews I’ve read, conversations I’ve had, and observations from daily life. Every story resonates in its own way, no matter the gender of the viewer.”

Orimolade is confident in theatre’s ability to tackle pressing issues like mental health, education, and emotional expression. He points to the concept of Global South Culture, which explores how Africans respond to Western influences in storytelling. “Theatre can, should and will continue to address these issues as long as we have theatre platforms. It has always been a communal tool. Long before formal stage productions existed, storytelling was passed down through generations as a means of teaching morals and shaping perspectives. That’s what we are bringing back performance as a platform for learning and self-awareness.”

Despite theatre’s great potential, Orimolade acknowledges that Nigeria lacks the infrastructure to fully support theatrical expression as funding is scarce, and purpose-built theatre spaces remain limited. “We need more government and private sector support, especially for spaces like the National Theatre in Lagos. If we can make theatre more accessible, both for audiences and producers, it will serve as an even greater force for social change.”

However, Orimolade’s current goal is to bring “The Discourse” to five thousand secondary school students in Lagos, believing that early intervention is key to reshaping harmful gender narratives. In the future, he hopes to expand the production’s reach to university communities as well.

“The message is simple,” he says,  “Boys and girls, men and women, we all need equal attention. We need to stop seeing gender as a point of division and recognize that we are indispensable to each other.”

With “The Discourse,” Orimolade offers more than a stage performance. He offers a call to unlearn, to listen, and to build a future where no child is left behind in silence.