Laughter, Legacy, and Liberation: The Power of Brown Girls Do It Too

With Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come, Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani have created something rare—a show that is both a party and a protest. Seamlessly blending humour and heartache, the duo invite the audience into their shared history of growing up brown and British, where silence around sex meets the loud contradictions of diaspora identity.

The production unfolds as a kaleidoscope of sketches, songs, and candid storytelling. From first crushes and bleaching cream to auntie gossip and the politics of desire, no subject is off-limits. The humour is sharp and self-aware, occasionally turning the joke back on the audience with wicked precision.

What elevates the performance beyond pure comedy is its emotional sincerity. Beneath the laughter lies a meditation on generational trauma, belonging, and the courage to speak openly about taboo topics. When Jay and Pabani turn to the audience and ask, “Who taught you to be ashamed?”—you could hear a pin drop.

Some transitions could be smoother, and a few sketches rely on broad caricature, but those moments never overshadow the play’s purpose: reclaiming space for brown women’s voices.

It’s not just a night at the theatre—it’s an awakening. Brown Girls Do It Too doesn’t just make you laugh; it makes you proud.

On until 13th September, book your tickets here.

WRITTEN BY: Nura Arooj