Midgitte Bardot's Shooting from Below
Artist Tamm Reynolds returns as their alter ego Midgitte Bardot in a show that combines musical theatre, movement, live art and drag.
Hot on the kitten heels of its sold-out premiere in 2024, Shooting from Below returns to the Purcell Room, exploring just who is really dwarfing who.
‘Performance has been written into dwarf bones against their will. They’re local celebrities with little power wherever they go, from the mines to the palace courts, from the cabaret to the big screen, and, naturally, on to the stages of performing arts institutions.’
Join Bardot as she questions: why does she seek violence? What happens when the little guys have the upper hand? What might a land look like when it’s designed and ruled by Midgittes? Are the non-dwarfs on their knees?
Tamm Reynolds makes live-art, text-based work and music, always being sure to take the piss. Everything drags: time, language, wigs, their face and their heels.
They’re a speechwriter and -giver and only ever punch up. Addressing themes of power dynamics, absurdist social commentary, and the pressing issue of small dogs playing with big dogs. They started performing as their drag alter ego, Midgitte Bardot, in 2014.
Since then, they’ve been awarded a LADA Katherine Araniello Bursary, artsadmin Award, New Queers On The Block Commission, Parallel Perspectives Residency and BAC Bloom Commission. They’ve also been featured in British Vogue and starred in Royal Court’s Sound of the Underground.
They regularly host experimental performance nights (Midgitte Bardot’s Personal Spot, produced by Willy Amott) and perform frequently with Duckie, Marlborough Productions, and various cabarets and festivals across the UK. A sold-out work in progress of Shooting from Below was originally performed at the Southbank Centre in 2024.
Need to know
This performance contains haze.
The show on Thursday 9 April is a preview performance.
Written and performed by Tamm Reynolds
Co-written and music performed by Nicol Parkinson
Director: Izzy Rabey
Producer: Cassie Catchpole
Set designer: Maisie Frater
Assistant director: Femi Tiwo
Movement director: Annie Edwards
Stage manager: Beck Gray
Costume designer: Lambdog 1066
Lighting designer: Marty Langthorne
An Unlimited UK Partner Award 2025 commission with the Southbank Centre, made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England.
Access
Relaxed Performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit during the performances. A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are available. There are no adjustments to sound and lighting for these performances.
The performance on Friday 10 April, 7.45pm is Audio Described. Please let a member of the team know when you arrive so that we can organise a headset for you.
The Touch Tour on Friday 10 April begins at 6.15pm. This is intended for blind and partially sighted audience members to familiarise themselves with the set, props and costumes ahead of the performance.
To attend or register your interest in the Touch Tour, please select this option as an add-on when booking tickets. Further details will be sent closer to the performance date.
All performances are captioned.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
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For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
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All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
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