Leslie Rees was educated at Subiaco Primary School, Perth Modern College and the University of Western Australia While at the University of Western Australia, he edited the student magazine, Black Swan He became a journalist for The Westralian after graduating in Arts and, in 1929, received a scholarship to University College in London. He was appointed Senior Dramatic Critic for the weekly newspaper, The Era, in 1931 and he held this position until 1935. Rees returned to Australia in 1936, becoming the Australian Broadcasting Commission's first federal drama editor and remaining in this position with the ABC until 1966. He founded the Playwrights Advisory Board in 1956 and was its chairman for 25 years. He was a past President of PEN (Sydney). As a writer, he is perhaps best known as a prolific writer of children's stories but he has also written travel books, plays and an autobiography, Hold Fast to your Dreams (1982). He has written numerous articles and critical essays, has written histories of Australian drama and has edited collections of plays Rees' work has been published in many countries and languages.