Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come

This summer we’ve had the absolute joy of working on Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come with the brilliant Poppy & Rubina. Following an incredible run at Soho Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe, and Soho Walthamstow, the show has cemented itself as one of the boldest, funniest, and most unapologetic performances of the year.

At its heart, Mama Told Me Not To Come is a riotous celebration of Brown British womanhood. Through songs, sketches, and hilariously frank storytelling, Poppy and Rubina dive headfirst into topics often swept under the rug - love, sex, mums, culture clashes, heartbreak, “sexpectations,” and smashing cultural taboos. Nothing is off-limits, and that’s what makes it so powerful.

With their signature honesty and infectious energy, the duo explore the messy realities of modern life: from first loves and orgasms to racism, intergenerational trauma, and the hilarious missteps along the way (yes, Jolen bleach gets a mention). The result is a show that is both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving - an ode to honesty, empowerment, and finding your voice.

The stage show builds on the success of their award-winning BBC Sounds podcast, Brown Girls Do It Too, which has already taken home Podcast of the Year (2020), Best Sex and Relationship Podcast (2023) at the British Podcast Awards, and Best Podcast at the Asian Media Awards. While the podcast broke boundaries by sparking conversations around sex and Asian communities - sparking both huge support and online backlash - the live show takes that openness to the next level.

With sketches, songs, and some very graphic content, Mama Told Me Not To Come is more than just a performance - it’s a movement. Fierce, funny, and unfiltered, it’s a fearless reminder that talking about sex, identity, and womanhood is not only necessary but liberating.