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Brownton Abbey

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The Afrofuturistic space-church themed performance party that centres and elevates disabled queer people of colour. Powered by @marlboroughproductions

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The official closing event of Words Matter Exhibition is almost here! Expect an evening of Film Shorts, plus a live performance with @lasana_shabazz at @ucleastengage. The event showcases work by three @brownton.abbey artists and explores themes of identity, articulation and current political and societal pressures felt by the queer community:

Sonny Nwachukwu presents: A Watchmaker's Wish
A Watchmaker's Wish is an exploration of stammering and the struggles that lie beneath the surface. The film follows an elderly man who, after losing the love of his life - a love he never voiced - finds himself drawn to a local community centre. His loneliness pushes him towards connection but to truly belong, he must finally confront his fears around his voice.
The film examines the lingering effects of outdated ideas around speech and ability, questioning how society listens, whose voices are valued, and the quiet resilience of those who stammer.

@lasana_shabazz presents: Men of Science
Firmly rooted in UCL, this film gives a platform to an anonymous truth teller through an in-depth and at times disturbing exploration of Francis Galton, the father of the eugenics movement. Men of Science addresses the significance of the knowledge created in these walls, corridors and classrooms from Galton’s pseudoscience and how it directly contributed to UCL as an institution. The film uncovers the effect of Galton’s legacy both past and present.

@rachaelraymck presents: The Goodstock Centre of Rejuvenation
The Goodstock Centre of Rejuvenation is a multidisciplinary installation bringing together mock-documentary film and spatial design to explore the legacies of eugenics and their ongoing impact on society.
Derived from the Greek for ‘wellborn’, eugenics promoted the belief that only those of ‘good stock’ should procreate – a flawed concept used to justify discrimination based on social class, mental health, sexual orientation, disability and race. These systems of exclusion echo today in far-right narratives and divisive social policies.

📅 Thur 19 February, 5:30pm - 9pm
🎟️ For more information and to book, visit the link in bio
📍UCL East Campus Marshgate by @brownton.abbey

👀 A look back at the launch of the Words Matter Exhibition that took place at the end of last year at @ucleastengage. Catch the exhibition for free before February 25th! Expect a multi-disciplinary exhibition showcasing the works of twelve artists, each with a practice in spoken word, performance and writing. Featuring 3 artists from @brownton.abbey; @jnr_nwa, @lasana_shabazz and @rachaelraymck. Catch the exhibition for free before February 25th!

About the artists supported by Brownton Abbey:
Sonny Nwachukwu (he/him) is a writer and director based across Peterborough and London. His work often uncovers hidden stories and has been presented at Southbank Centre, Northern Contemporary Dance School (Riley Theatre) and Brixton House. He is Artistic Director of Gateway Arts, where he produces multidisciplinary work that champions accessibility and new approaches to storytelling.

Lasana Shabazz (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work delves deep into identity politics, deconstructing ideas of race, sexuality, class and gender. Lasana’s practice incorporates theatre, dance, spoken word, visual art, music production, make up, costume design and construction, to queer the norm of what is considered acceptable by mainstream and popular culture.

Ray Young (they/them) is an award-winning transdisciplinary performance artist, writer, educator and coach. Creating unique, genre-defying work through collaboration and resistance to traditional form, Ray's practice exists at the boundaries of live art, activism and immersive experience.

👉 The exhibition is free to visit daily until the 25th February 2026, 10am – 6pm
Find out more, visit the link in @ucleastengage's bio
📍UCL East Campus Marshgate

The exhibition is a collaboration between UCL and four specialist organisations: Brownton Abbey, CRIPtic Arts, The New Black Film Collective and UD Music.

Image credit: © Briony Campbell by @brownton.abbey

Making Space: Neurodivergent coffee morning - 9th Dec, 10am - noon at UCL East - Marshgate.

Join me for a neurodivergent coffee morning. Chill, make friends, discuss your neurodivergent experience and most importantly take up space. You'll also be invited to view The Goodstock installation.

This event is FREE but ticketed, link in bio.

Written & Created by @rachaelraymck
DOP/Editor @oozing_thru
Original composition @crispyfilth
Project Assistant & Researcher @tinisha.lw
Producer @jennafmason
Production Support @maybellecable & @ri_mcd
In collaboration with @ucleastengage @brownton.abbey by @brownton.abbey

Very excited to share a first look at a project we’ve been creating with @ucleastengage

Huge amount of love to this dream team - a space where unmasking felt easy, and where our beautifully neurodivergent crew could just… be.

The Goodstock is a fictional wellness retreat that challenges the legacies of eugenics and their impact today. A multidisciplinary installation blending mock-documentary, moving image + spatial design, it imagines a future that honours neurodivergent ways of being and softens the grip of capitalist individualism.

Featuring two films: ‘The Goodstock Centre for Rejuvenation’ and ‘Waiting Room’.

Launching as part of Words Matter, a multi-disciplinary exhibition bringing together twelve artists exploring UCL’s historic role in promoting the pseudoscience of eugenics.

FREE launch event
7 Sidings Street
Mon 24 Nov | 5:30–9pm
Parental guidance advised.

Creator/Director/Writer/Performer @rachaelraymck
Co-director/Script Supervisor @ri_mcd
Colourist @colourbyemmanuel
DOP/Editor @oozing_thru
Original composition @crispyfilth
Project Assistant & Researcher @tinisha.lw
Producer @jennafmason
Special thanks @mikaonyxjohnson @chelsea___gordon @undeclaredmeats & @fabric.dance
Exhibition design @scarbarclay
In collaboration with @ucleastengage @brownton.abbey by @brownton.abbey

Watch Nyma Ayda Séne’s B2B, a meditation for when there is no sun (Directed by Matthew Arthur Williams @matthewarthurwilliams) at Screen Dance Festival this Saturday 8th November, 7pm.
🔗Ticket link in bio!

Nyma’s work is rooted in their Afro-German heritage, focusing on the queer, Black, European, diasporic experience. Alongside Gillian Katungi @paix.love, their performance is about connection and light and darkness, covering the sonic realness of jazz innovator Sun Ra’s When There Is No Sun. Directed, designed and sound composed by Matthew Arthur Williams.

Image description: B2B (Nyma Ayda Séne and Gillian Katungi) side by side, looking to camera, their hair formed by strings of different sized beads in shades of brown

Nyma Image Credits (taken from South East Dance website, Ellie edited name spelling)

Image credits: A still from the film B2B, a meditation for when there is no sun by Nyma Ayda Séne, Direxted by by @brownton.abbey

Screening this Saturday 8th November at Screedance Festival, is interdisciplinary performance artis/writer/director, @lasana_shabazz‘s “Where are you from?”,, evoking vulnerability whilst exploring the narratives and emotional footprint of marginalised groups.

The film’s title, “Where are you from?”, transforms a question often asked with racial motivation and weaponisation into a tool for empowerment. Directed by @mimikoku, this movement film is about pushing against racism and the feeling of being unwelcome in one’s own home.

🔗Ticket link in bio!

Image description: Performer Lasana Shabazz, a black man with a bald head, his beard coloured gold, and with gold and blue eye make up, looking directly at the viewer through the camera.

Image credits: A still from the film Where Are You From by Lasana Shabazz (Directed by Mimi Koku) by @brownton.abbey

Don’t miss your chance to watch Sonny Nwachukwu’s @jnr_nwa Re(Union) (Directed by Myah Jeffers @myah.jeffers ) at Screen Dance Festival this Saturday 8th November, 7pm.🔗Ticket link in bio!

Sonny Nwachukwu is a writer, director, choreographer and performer. Through spoken word and movement, Re(union), directed by Myah Jeffers, is about different journeys to becoming comfortable with one’s skin, finding one's voice, and finding one's light. Sonny was inspired by the biblical character Moses, who like him also had a stammer.

Image description: Sonny Nwachukwu standing in front of a stained glass church window, wearing a red beaded crown head piece, red bead necklace and a sleeveless cream lace top with neck ruffles, looking to camera with golden eye make up.

Image credits: A still from the film Re(Union) by Sonny Nwachukwu (Directed by Myah Jeffers). by @brownton.abbey

Don’t miss your chance to watch Malik Nashad Sharpe’s @maliknashadsharpe All I Ever Wanted (Directed by Nick Virk @nick.virk ) at Screen Dance Festival this Saturday 8th November, 7pm.🔗Ticket link in bio!

Malik Nashad Sharpe presents their inimitable choreography in Battersea Arts Centre’s spectacular Grand Hall for All I Ever Wanted. Renowned for their distinctive physical dexterity as well as atmospheric, electrifying performances, this film is about rage, their relationship of gender, their experiences of sexual assault and moving through these experiences. This film commission is directed by Nick Virk.

Image description: Malik Nashad Sharpe with red and black hair, wearing yellow, looking to camera, arms beginning to raise.

Image credits: A still from the film All I Ever Wanted by Malik Nashad Sharpe (Directed by Nick Virk). by @brownton.abbey

Immerse yourself in the Brownton Abbey Cinematic Universe at The Dance Space this Saturday, 7pm as part of #BrightonScreendanceFestival 🎥

Watch four films by @brownton.abbey, an international performance collective centering and celebrating disabled, queer people of colour. The event will be introduced by Tarik Elmoutawakil, a founder and artistic director of @marlboroughproductions, our partner for this event.

Book your Pay What You Can tickets now at the link in our bio.

Brighton Screendance Festival is presented in partnership with @cinecitybrighton by @brownton.abbey

Join us at #TheDanceSpace for four films by @brownton.abbey, an international performance collective centering and celebrating disabled, queer people of colour 🎞️✮⋆˙

Presented as part of Brighton Screendance Festival, in partnership with @cinecitybrighton, we’ll be screening work by Malik Nasad-Sharpe @marikiscrycrycry, Sonny Nwachukwu @jnr_nwa, Lasana Shabazz @lasana_shabazz and Nima Séne.

This Pay What You Can event will be introduced by Tarik Elmoutawakil, a founder and artistic director of Marlborough Productions, our partner for this event.

@marlboroughproductions is the UK’s trailblazing performing arts organisation dedicated to intersectional queer arts.

Find out more and book tickets at the link in our bio.

Image descriptions in Alt Text.

#BrowntonAbbey #AfroFuturism #QueerJoy #DeifyDifference #brighton #brightonarts #Dance by @brownton.abbey

Stepping onto the Nomad stage in Shangri-La at Glastonbury to lead an opening ceremony with @brownton.abbey was a triumphant and deeply important moment. It’s a powerful statement: Spaces that centre disability aren’t the norm at festivals, but they absolutely should be. Disabled artists, audiences, and producers deserve accessible joy and connection outdoors - just like everyone else. This experience, while celebratory, also highlighted how much work remains. We couldn’t bring our full team of artists, a stark reminder of ongoing barriers. True progress means this work must be led by disabled queers, disabled Black and Brown folks, and all intersectional disabled communities. We hold the vision for a truly inclusive festival future, that says “if we have left someone behind then we haven’t arrived”.

Thank you, Nomad, for being visionary hosts and making this groundbreaking moment possible! Hosted by Laud Brownton (our very own Tarik Elmoutawakil), acts Tina Hyena and Alex Fincher, music from Thempress, interpreted by Ali Gordan and produced by Seyi Osi. Photo ID in alt text. Video ID: Laud Brownton wearing white with large antennae flowing behind addresses a large crowd of people at Glastonbury Festival. by @brownton.abbey