katie lees: storyteller, performer, and creative force

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An exceptional singer—capable of nailing every high note in Happy Birthday—she spent her teenage years in the Blue Mountains creating shows and short films from home. 

In March 2009, she took her first official steps toward a creative career by beginning a performance degree at the University of Wollongong.

During her time in Wollongong, Katie tackled an impressive range of roles, from the absurd and chaotic Ma Ubu in Ubu Roi to the hardworking, intelligent, and forceful Julie Dockerty in This Old Man Comes Rolling Home. She also played a woman caught in a hostage and torture siege in Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat. Her dedication to her craft was undeniable—she threw herself into every character, earning the admiration of her peers for her unwavering commitment and intensity. 

After university, Katie set her sights on breaking into the Sydney theatre scene, successfully auditioning for independent productions across the city. 

Setting out for new adventures through Europe, Katie brought children's theatre to schools in Italy, filling classrooms with laughter and imagination. But it was in refugee camps across Germany, Hungary, and Romania that her work took on even greater meaning—using physical theatre to break language barriers, bring joy, and remind people of their shared humanity. For Katie, performance was never just about the stage; it was about connection, community, and creating something bigger than herself.

But it wasn’t until she moved to London—far from the pressures she put on herself—that she truly found her voice. She started writing, turning her real-life experiences into monologues and stories. This led to Temporary, her one-woman show that premiered at the Sydney Fringe Festival before touring Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney’s professional theatre scene at The Old Fitz. 

In later years, Katie expanded her creative range yet again. Instead of building characters, she stepped out of her comfort zone and took to the stage as herself, diving into stand-up comedy—which, ironically, became her new comfort zone.

Katie teamed up with her best friend, Grace Rouvray, to create Hour of Power, a comedy show celebrating the chaos of friendship, dating, and navigating your thirties. The show premiered at Sydney Fringe Comedy in 2019, playing to packed houses at Factory Theatre and earning glowing reviews for its sharp wit and the duo’s electric chemistry.
Riding on its success, they returned with Katie & Grace’s Hour of Power: With Friends at Flight Path Theatre, before bringing Katie & Grace: In Conversation to Adelaide Fringe online in 2020 —proving once again that their onstage magic was something special.

A multifaceted writer, actor, comedian, and singer, Katie gave 110% to every project she touched. Whether on stage or on the page, she had a voice worth hearing—and a presence impossible to ignore.