In The Goldberg Variations, Canadian performance artist Clayton Lee freely references and entangles queer diasporic sexuality and aesthetics with classical music (Johann Sebastian Bach) and professional wrestling (Bill Goldberg).

From a late night cabaret with Philadelphia’s Bearded Ladies to the grand proscenium of NYU Skirball Center in New York City to the iconic Walker Court at the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Goldberg Variations is an ever-evolving performance project that is re-imagined and adapted for every space.

Using deadpan humour, generosity, and a low-vibrating mischievousness to facilitate and indulge the “what-ifs” of the live encounter, Clayton guides the audience through his sexual history while conjuring and perhaps manifesting new fantasies at the exact same time. The Goldberg Variations is an unhinged and reckless deep dive into power dynamics, sexual desire, Domination/submission, heartbreak, vulnerability, tenderness, and the tensions that exist within.

Accessibility

Content warnings: Adult language, sexual content, depictions or mentions of violence (wrestling).

Sensory warnings: Strobe/flashing lights, haze, loud noises, scent, audience interaction, potential presence of a snake.

Please indicate any accessibility needs, including wheelchair accessible seating or if you require seating with no stairs, in the provided field. We will do our best to assign seating that works for you and get in touch if we have any questions. A Visual Guide for The Metro Studio has been created, and is current as of August 2023. View it here.

About the artist

Clayton Lee is a Canadian curator, producer, and performance artist. He is currently the Artistic Director of Fierce Festival in Birmingham, UK. His performance projects have been presented in venues across Canada, the United States, the UK, and New Zealand. Often situating his work within theatrical contexts, previous performances include Ways of Being, co-created with Michael Rubenfeld, at FOLDA and The Kick and Push Festival; and (◕‿◕✿) at The Performance Arcade in Wellington, New Zealand and Chapter’s EXPERIMENTICA in Cardiff, Wales. He was one of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Artists-in-Residence in 2023. As part of the Living Room Collective, he will be representing Canada at the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture.

Credits

Created and performed by: Clayton Lee

The artist would like to acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Free Youth OUTreach Tickets: A limited number of free tickets for queer youth and allies.

Pay-What-You-Ten Tickets: 10% of tickets are available for $10, in an effort to make theatre more accessible to equity-seeking groups, newcomers, artists & arts workers, and anyone for whom cost is a barrier. We believe the arts have something to offer everyone and we want to reduce financial barriers to our programming. No registration, forms to fill out, or questions asked. Just select the PWY10 ticket when booking online.

Arrival at the venue: The doors will open 30 minutes ahead of showtime.  Masks are strongly encouraged inside the theatre.

Refunds: If you are not feeling well or have any symptoms, please stay home to help keep everyone safe. We are able to discuss refunds on a case by case basis due to health reasons before the performance. Please contact tickets@intrepidtheatre.com. We are unable to arrange refunds after a performance has occurred.