katie lees fellowship
The Katie Lees Fellowship empowers young female artists to tell their stories and celebrates the talents and creativity of young women in theatre, by providing access to a supportive arts community and the opportunity to develop and showcase their own unique performance pieces.
The Katie Lees Fellowship was created to honour the memory of Katie Lees, an actor, writer, and producer who passed away in August 2021.
In Katie’s show 'Temporary', she said "Ironing boards are surfboards who gave up on their dreams. Don’t be an ironing board." The Katie Lees Fellowship inspires young women to create their own work and not give up on their dreams.
The Fellowship provides a platform for women, 34 years and younger, to develop their careers within the performing arts sector; highlighting the excellence and innovation of young female creatives and encouraging more voices to be heard.
Recipients of the Fellowship will receive financial assistance and mentorship to develop and showcase their unique work. Providing the opportunity to develop an original script with a team of creatives, whilst expanding their networks within the performing arts community.
Recipients are supported in securing rehearsal space for workshopping and developing their performance piece and resourcing production staff and materials to produce their work on stage.
The Fellowship culminates in the recipient performing their developed works, at FlightPath Theatre.
Meet the 2025 Katie Lees Fellowship Recipient
Eloise Aiken (she/her)
Eloise is a queer writer, performer, and director based on Gadigal land.
With a background in politics and an MFA in Dramatic Writing at NIDA, her comedic works engage young audiences through stories that reflect identity and belonging. Her work in community theatre and sketch revues is primarily comedic, focusing on the experiences of young people with the hope to engage more young people in the theatre space.
Eloise's previous works include writing and performing in Sydney University Arts Revue (August, 2022), writing two monologues in the sold-out show, What I Didn’t Say (January, 2023) and co-writing and co-directing two sold out runs of Screwd! at both the Cellar Theatre (March, 2024) and at Flightpath theatre (September, 2024) as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. In February 2025, Eloise directed an original show, Notes on (Church) Camp, for the Big Gay Entree at the Factory Theatre.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Katie Lees Foundation for believing in my story and offering such invaluable support for the development process.
It can be really difficult to find the resources and guidance when creating theatre, so I feel incredibly lucky as a young writer to have the foundation backing me.
The pitch night was really inspiring and it’s an honour to be chosen from such a fierce group of talented women with amazing ideas.
It's a real privilege to be awarded this fellowship to continue Katie’s legacy of telling funny and bold stories, and I cannot thank the foundation enough for this opportunity.”
past recipients
2024 Co-Recipient
2024 Co-Recipient
Madeleine Stedman’s work is a powerful and timely exploration of rebellion, community, and the human toll of technological progress, balancing historical insight with sharp contemporary resonance.
Stedman’s play captivates with its bold storytelling and metatheatrical twists.
2024 Co-Recipient
2024 Co-Recipient
Grace Malouf’s piece is a bold and hilarious exploration of midlife disillusionment, frustration and ambition balancing moments of heartfelt introspection with unapologetic lunacy.
Malouf's work surprises at every turn.
2023 Recipient
"Chloe Lethlean Higson's innovative new play is filled with courage, humour, empathy, and is a reflection of humanity but it also stands as a testament to female strength - mind, body and soul."
- Sydney Scoop
2022 Co-Recipient
2022 Co-Recipient
"Losing It' revels in the awkward without making fun of its lead character and throws in plenty of surprises. And the climax? Lives up to all that comes before."
- Chuck Moore Reviews
2022 Co-Recipient
2022 Co-Recipient
2022 Co-Recipient
“All loopy, all comic gold, and with three glorious comic performances. A joy from start to finish, and – like it’s double-billed co-fellowship winner - absolutely not to be missed.”
- Chuck Moore Reviews