Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come
About
Fierce, funny, and hilariously frank, Poppy and Rubina aren’t afraid to tackle the burning issues (literally – looking at you, Jolen bleach) of being a woman.
In this laugh-out-loud, moving show, they dive into the messy realities of life: heartbreak, fantasies, sexpectations, culture clashes, female empowerment, families (mums feature heavily, funnily enough), role models, social media, and smashing taboos.
With their trademark honesty, wit, and infectious energy, Poppy and Rubina reflect on what it means to be Brown British women and explore seminal moments in their lives from first orgasms and loves to racism and intergenerational trauma.
Produced by Tilted.
Show Run
9th September 2025 - 13th September 2025
Venue
Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre
‘Funny, raw, and unashamedly bold.’
— Snack Magazine
‘Refreshing and riotously funny.’
— Stage
‘Gasps of joy… a show with a solid emotional and political core.’
— Guardian
Cast
Poppy Jay
Poppy is a dynamic, powerful and no-nonsense broadcaster and BAFTA nominated director, journalist, writer and podcaster with experience in covering issues on feminism, political uprising and challenging cultural perceptions.
Poppy does not shy away from a difficult subject matter and her journalistic credibility has seen her present documentaries such as Dispatches: Isis; The British Women Supporters Unveiled, Rescuing Ex-Muslims: Leaving Islam for Channel 4, Young & Sterile: My Choice and The Truth about Upskirting for BBC Three.
Poppy’s tenacity and chameleon-like attitude further led her to direct and present documentaries in an authored style such as the hit Channel 4 documentary Queens of Rap, which landed her a BAFTA nomination, and her most recent film, Young, British and Anti-Abortion for BBC One and BBC Three, which recently won Best TV/Film at the Sandford St Martin Awards. In 2025, Poppy was awarded Best Factual TV Presenter at The Edinburgh TV Awards – a recognition of her fearless storytelling and powerful on-screen presence.
Poppy is also one-half of the multi award-winning podcasting duo behind Brown Girls Do It Too, where they spoke candidly, hilariously and informatively about sex, dating and relationships as a modern British South Asian woman. Highlights for the podcast included winning Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards 2020 and Best Podcast in 2024 at the National Reality Television Awards. The show also took to the stage with Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come which they toured nationally, as well as performing at Edinburgh Fringe and selling out longer runs at Soho Theatre. The show earned 4* reviews across the board from The Guardian, Evening Standard, The Stage and more.
Rubina Pabani
Rubina Pabani is a British media professional and co‑host of the award‑winning BBC Sounds podcast Brown Girls Do It Too, a candid and groundbreaking series that explores sex, relationships, identity and culture from the perspective of British South Asian women. Launched in 2019, the podcast quickly became a hit for its unfiltered discussions and relatable storytelling, earning accolades including Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards and Best Podcast at the Asian Media Awards.
Alongside co‑host Poppy Jay, Pabani has helped transform Brown Girls Do It Too into a vibrant live theatre experience with Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come, a stage show that has toured the UK and played at venues including Soho Theatre with enthusiastic critical reception. In her day job, Rubina serves as Head of Short Form at ITN Productions, bringing editorial and creative vision to digital projects while pushing forward conversations about culture, community and openness
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