Masculinity in Uncertain Times: poetry, comedy and conversation delving deep into the state of UK men
Host: Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice
Join us for a lively showcase of poetry, comedy, conversation and storytelling featuring new and emerging voices that capture the UK's cultural pulse on what it means to be a man in the UK today. Guiding the evening is host Ben Hurst from Beyond Equality, who will introduce a dynamic line-up, including acclaimed spoken word poet Sam Browne, comedian Alex Farrow, CEO of Male Allies UK Lee Chambers, and Equimundo’s Deputy Director of Research Chloé Lewis - as well as a new short film produced for Equimundo and Beyond Equality by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.
From money and mental health to stereotypes, fatherhood, sex, care, power and vulnerability – nothing’s off-limits. Whether you’re a dad, a mum, a son, a sister, a brother, a mate, a mentor or just curious, come and be part of the conversation.
National dialogue about men and masculinity is gaining increasing visibility in the UK and beyond. Understandably, these conversations often lean towards panic: Netflix’s Adolescence was an upsetting wake-up call to many parents and leaders, including PM Keir Starmer, about the online lives of young men. The ongoing decline in boys’ educational attainment and crisis of purpose, particularly among lower-income men and boys, alongside an increasing rise in young men’s push back against hard-won women’s rights and a constellation of unmet health and social needs, has underscored the need for a deeper understanding and thoughtful engagement with masculinity today.
Yet, there is reason for hope. In 2025, Equimundo and Beyond Equality surveyed over 2,100 people across the UK and the results were clear: the vast majority of men find tremendous meaning in care and connection in their lives. 91% of men and women surveyed affirmed that friendship is the quality they most associate with being a man today, while 80% of dads surveyed called for more support to juggle work and family, with over half reporting that care and family policies shape how they vote.
At a time when narratives around masculinity are increasingly divisive and distorted, men’s palpable valuing of care and community offers a clear pathway to support men’s connection and allyship.
Speakers:
Ben Hurst - Advocate, Activist, Public Speaker, Facilitator, Host, Presenter, Model and Head of Facilitation at Beyond Equality
Sam Browne - Spoken word poet from Southend, Essex, who originally set out to be a stand-up comedian until he realised all his jokes rhymed and none of them were particularly funny - he now has an online following of over 140K and has won awards for his activism and numerous poetry slams.
Alex Farrow - Comedian and host of Stand-up Philosophy London and the award-winning Jericho Comedy in Oxford
Lee Chambers - A business psychologist, male allyship specialist and speaker. He is the founder of Male Allies UK and Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing.
Dr. Chloé Lewis, Deputy Director of Research at Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, lead author of the State of UK Men study. Based in Oxford.
This venue has a capacity of 90.