Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#164): Poppy and Rubina, BROWN GIRLS DO IT TOO: MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME

As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect. Today, we’re joined by Poppy and Rubina to find out more about Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come.

1. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

P: Mama Told Me Not To Come is a comedy show about womanhood, from cringe teenage chaos to messy family dynamics to the bits no one talks about. It's about our mums, who shaped us, scarred us, and accidentally made us funny and inspired by the hilarious and emotional stories our listeners have shared over the years.

R: Mama Told Me Not To Come is a collection of comedy flashbacks to our weird lives covering our sexual awakenings, brown girl problems and something everyone can relate to, a complicated relationship with our mum.

2. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

P: We did the show at Soho Theatre and the response was incredible, so it made sense to test it at the whitest, most audacious comedy space out there, the Fringe. We like pushing ourselves (and the glass ceiling). Some call it genius, I call it stupid. But also… YOLO.

R: Since our podcast Brown Girls Do It Too finished, we wanted to get out there and meet our listeners, but also see how we might be received on one of the world’s biggest stages at Edinburgh Fringe. 

3. How would you describe your show in three words?

P: Shameless. Chaotic. Tender.

R: Batshit, raucous and surprising 

4. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance

P: We want them laughing, then thinking. Whether you’re having your fourth existential crisis, love and loathe your body in equal measure, or still arguing with your inner 15-year-old, there’s something in it for you. Mostly, we want people to leave feeling like they can finally chuckle about things that once felt off limits.

R: We’d love people to feel energised with a tight jaw from laughing so hard, but also with new insight into their own relationships with the people around them. 

5. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

P: I've never performed but comedian Stephen Bailey told me to 'eat veg' so let's go with that and lowering all expectations.

R: I’ve only ever been as a punter whilst studying in Edinburgh and all I did then was get wasted every night and sleep with everyone. This time I’ll be channelling my experiences of early motherhood - no sleep, tits out and ruthless efficiency when it comes to booze. And boobs.  

6. Where and when can people see your show?

P: Laugh with us at Underbelly Cowbarn everyday (except on the 11th where I plan to eat a month's worth of veg) at 4pm and come and say hi to us after!

R: We’re singing, flirting, scheming and fanny farting everyday at Underbelly Cowbarn at 4pm