Dr Caleb Lee (he/him)

I am an academic and creative producer working at the intersection of the arts and young people, with diverse experiences spanning Southeast/East Asia and the UK. As a recipient of the National Arts Council scholarship, I earned my doctorate from Royal Holloway University of London, focusing on Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA). My work now cuts across the creative industries, applied performances, creative arts youth work, and digital technologies, with particular interests in popular culture, musical theatre, amplifying global majority voices, and promoting young people's health and wellbeing. Additionally, I serve as the department's Student Support for Racial Equality and Inclusion and hold the role of Mental Health First Aider.

I am currently leading a research project for the 'Diversity within TYA' strand as part of the ASSITEJ Global Advocacy Project (2023-2024).

I am also Co-Artistic Director of Five Stones Theatre – an international collective creating dance and theatrical experiences for children and young people that are ‘a little different’.

Prior to joining the University of Exeter in November 2022, I was Creative Youth Work Researcher at Spotlight Creative Youth Services, in partnership with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), where I led an Arts Council funded project that focused on increasing inclusivity and relevance for young people accessing cultural provision. From 2018-2021, I was Research Associate at Rose Bruford College TYA Centre. And from 2009-2017, I was Lecturer in the School of Dance and Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore).

Beyond the academy, I have over a decade of leadership experience in the creative industries, locally and internationally. Notably, I was the Festival Manager (2010–2014) for I Theatre’s ACE! Festival – A performing arts festival dedicated to children and their families, and later took on the role of Associate Director (2015–2019), in which I fostered partnerships with various global cultural organisations, as well as planned and managed short and long term strategies. I'm currently lead producer for the award-winning show For the Love of Spam (Brazil, Hawaii, London, Edinburgh) that is set to tour internationally in 2025, alongside other creative projects. 

In the professional sector, I am the International Officer (co-opted) for National Drama. I serve on the Advisory Council at Polka Theatre and as Associate Researcher of the International Inclusive Arts Network (IIAN) and Rose Bruford College TYA Centre. I am lead researcher and a member of the Asian TYA Network.

I also review theatre and dance productions for various platforms and serve as the super assesor (TYA category) for the Off-West End Awards.

I am currently a producer on Stage One's Bridge the Gap programme. 

Research supervision:

I am open to discussing reearch proposals and projects within my research expertise.