Tamm Reynolds, the non-binary trans drag queen known as Midgitte Bardot, is confronting prejudice against people with dwarfism in their latest show, Shooting From Below, at London's Southbank Centre. The performer, who uses they/them pronouns for themselves and she/her for their drag persona, says they have been 'radicalised by the existence I have and the way I’m treated'.
Reynolds, who has dwarfism, describes frequent street harassment, including being filmed, asked intrusive questions about their body and sex life, and even followed home. 'The entitlement is very perplexing,' they say. 'It’s mostly men. But I’ve had women decide that I’m a child and hold my hand and follow me home.'
The show, their first since recovering from spinal surgery last year, sees Midgitte justifying a dreadful act she has committed. Reynolds explains that it addresses how 'big people have done terrible things' to those with dwarfism, citing Princess Eugenie's 25th birthday party where she rented seven dwarves and forbade dancing without her permission. 'There’s still a culture of, we are objects,' they say.
Reynolds, who also appeared in Travis Alabanza's queer cabaret revue Sound of the Underground in 2021, says that without dwarfism, they would 'probably be quite normcore'. They add: 'I’ve been radicalised by the existence I have and the way I’m treated.'
