Lee to join Fierce festival’s leadership team

CLAYTON LEE will become Director (Artistic) of Birmingham-based festival Fierce in October.

He takes over the role from AARON WRIGHT, who left in spring to join the Southbank Centre, ahead of Fierce’s next festival in October 2024.

His appointment coincides with a new leadership structure, which will see Lee work alongside Director (Operations) CATHERINE GROOM and Director (Producing) PIPPA FRITH.

Lee is a Canadian curator, producer and performance artist who has been Director of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Rhubarb Festival – Canada’s longest-running festival of new and experimental performance – since 2019.

“Fierce has long captured my imagination, introducing me to the cutting edge of practice and shaping my curatorial interests. To join the Fierce constellation in this moment with this team as Director (Artistic) is as thrilling as it is surreal,” he said.

“As I begin the move from Canada to the UK, I cannot wait to dive into the Birmingham and the Midlands contexts, while continuing to forefront Fierce’s values of Trust, Joy, Disruption, and Rigour as we collectively interrogate and explore what a festival can be.”

Fierce Chair PAUL BURNS added: “We’re excited to see how Clayton’s infectious energy and vision will create many more opportunities for audiences to experience extraordinary and transformational performance in the coming years”.