About us

Brownton Abbey is the Afrofuturistic, Space-Church themed performance party that centres, celebrates and elevates Disabled people queer people of colour.

Brownton Abbey merges stunning political performances, throbbing dance beats, hypnotic visuals and otherworldly decor within a decadent setting.

Collectively we manifest queer joy, creating a safe space where difference is deified not demonised, ushering in transcendence and exalted states of consciousness and connectedness.

Who is it for?

Brownton Abbey creates events for everyone, starting by centring people who are marginalised in multiple ways, specifically through the intersections of ethnicity, queerness and disability. By making these identities the starting point for inclusion rather than an afterthought, Brownton Abbey’s formula  successfully creates a truly unique space that genuinely welcomes all,  no matter the body you find yourself in. The feeling of inclusivity is tangible and unforgettable.

Who is it by?

Brownton Abbey was conceived though conversations between lead artist Tarik Elmoutawakil, and a constellation of queer Black and brown disabled creatives and activists. We recognised the trials and tribulations of having marginalised identities on the stage and in the audience – being too queer for one place and not white enough for another or too disabled for them all, and the pitfalls of performing with all of these marginalisations combined. Harnessing  the world building power of speculative fiction and Afro Futurism, we cast ourselves into the future that we were ready to exist within.

Why does Brownton Abbey have a Space Church theme?

There is an expectation for marginalised people to perform the trauma of difference and experiences of being othered, to a privileged audience. This leads such performers into the trap of having to repeatedly and publicly retraumatise themselves in order to earn a living, for the purposes of entertainment.

Brownton Abbey circumnavigates this power dynamic. The sacred space theme provides a holy moment, honouring our spiritual selves. This is especially transformational for people who are ostracised due to the homophobia/transphobia that was brought to the people of the Global South during colonisation, and still remains today. The inversion of a church space into a space-church, gives audiences alternative access to sacred places, the holy dance floor, a place for healing from the trauma of being ‘cast out‘ from your inherited spiritual practices or religions.

How is intersectional access manifested at Brownton Abbey?

At Brownton Abbey, we approach access and inclusion from multiple directions. Barriers are identified and removed. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

We use wheelchair accessible spaces only – onstage, backstage and in the auditorium.

We create alternative quiet spaces.

We use BSL and sur/subtitles/captioning.

We ensure toilets are, or become, gender neutral.

We provide free tickets for marginalised community members.

Everyone working as part of Brownton Abbey, on and off stage, identify as queer people of colour and many are disabled.

We ensure there are no fast flashing lights during the event.

We offer touch tours in advance of the event.