YOU'VE never been to a party like this before.

Brownton Abbey is one of the most eagerly anticipated events at this year's Brighton Festival, and with good reason.

For one thing, the Dome is getting a radical makeover. The opulent venue will be kitted out with elegant drape-like ribbons, helium balloons with tassels and copious amounts of UV lighting.

"It's very LED heavy – it's going to be a burst of colour," says the Festival's Rob Jones, co-founder of Brownton Abbey along with Tarik Elmoutawakil, creative producer of The Marlborough Theatre.

There's also going to be an underground "womb-like room", where 15 audience members at one time can take part in meditative breathing exercises.

"We’re interested in providing for people who might not necessarily drink when they go out, or party in that way," adds Rob. "We want to provide different experiences that will put people in a good frame of mind."

That's not the half of it, though. Brownton Abbey is most notable for the platform it gives to trans, queer and intersex people of colour (QTIPOC).

There are a host of inventive, genre-smashing artists on show, from the night's headliner Big Freedia, the Beyonce and Drake collaborator who created her own form of music – "New Orleans bounce" – to esteemed dance choreographer Malik Nashad Sharpe who kicks off the evening.

For Rob and Tarik, Brownton Abbey is about moving away from conventional narratives around QTIPOC and bringing people together in a semi-spiritual way. The blurb promises the Dome will become an "off-world temple".

"We wanted to create the ultimate party that would allow people to commune and to celebrate," says Rob. "It's about visibility, too – we wanted to make sure QTIPOC are seen and celebrated for their art."

Rob points out that while Big Freedia's distinctive voice has been heard on a few hit songs including Beyonce's Formation, they are rarely witnessed in music videos or at festivals. "That's to do with mainstream popular culture," he says. "Maybe in 10 or 12 years there might be greater visibility."

In another interview, Rob and Tarik talked of their disappointment after seeing a London theatre production based around QTIPOC. While Rob won't name the show, understandably, he explains his issues with it.

"What was wrong with that show, and how QTIPOC art has been used in the past, was that it wasn't made by QTIPOC," says Rob. "Sometimes there is an element of exploitation [by writers or directors] to benefit an audience who only want to see these people in one dimension.

"A lot of work around QTIPOC only explores trauma and darkness. There's not much beauty and joy. For us, this was about trying to move away from that and create a space for work that is beautiful and joyful, where artists can let their imaginations run wild."

Brownton Abbey is loosely based around the theme of afro-futurism. To sum up briefly, this is a concept that uses science-fiction or fantasy – often in comic books – to allegorise the present-day dilemmas of people of colour. Black Panther is a high-profile example.

"We loved the idea of otherness and the similarities between an alien in a graphic novel, for instance, and a person of colour that doesn't fit into mainstream society," says Rob.

This is only the start of Rob and Tarik's ambitions for Brownton Abbey. As representation of QTIPOC in the arts and media improves year upon year, events like this will surely prove pivotal in the quest for equality.

"This will go on and have a life," says Rob. "We're focused on making sure that happens."