About Lee

Lee was born in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales into a musical family.

His father and grandmother were both professional singers on the cabaret circuit and his love of playing to live audiences surely stemmed there.

In his early twenties Lee became a performer in his own right. Competitions, eisteddfods, local theatre all played a part in shaping the artiste he is today.

Lee became a cabaret artiste on the South Wales club scene and toured his act for three years while working full time and raising a young family. During this time he recorded his first album “Just One Voice” which had regular airplay on BBC Radio Wales. He also sang tracks from the album on the BBC1 Wales show Just Up Your Street.  Guest spots for Chris Needs, Owen Money and Alan Thompson followed on radio as well as several outside broadcasts.

Early demo recordings led to his first leading theatrical role, that of Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance. This was a new departure musically and one Lee thoroughly enjoyed. From there he went on to play various and challenging roles in productions including: “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Follies”, “Sweeny Todd” and “The King and I”.  His leading roles include Judas – Jesus Christ Superstar; Tony – West Side Story; and Darryl Van Horne in the Welsh premiere of The Witches of Eastwick.

He toured nationally, creating the role of Will Hay in the original production of Michael Bogdanov’s  Amazing Grace  written by Mal Pope, for the Wales Theatre Company.

He has performed in live concerts across the country. The highlight so far being a concert version of West Side Story, playing Tony, fronting the Robert Mandell Melachrino String Orchestra and full Philharmonic choir.

Lee’s straight theatre credits began when playwright Frank Vickery invited him to audition for a touring production. An association which lasted for thirteen tours in all. The plays, all comedies, include A Night on the Tiles, Roots and Wings, Family Planning, Trivial Pursuits, Spanish Lies, Pulling the Wool and his personal favourite Tonto Evans, where he created the role of Wayne in the original cast.

Family Planning was produced as a 16 part Radio series for the BBC. Lee played the role of Bobby in 12 episodes.

Ten Years ago Lee approached a local Big Band that was just starting out, to see if he could sing a couple of numbers with them for fun. That band has since become one if the finest Big Bands in South Wales and is the ‘go to band’ for any large function or corporate event. Lee Gilbert and the Dave Barry Big Band have worked continually throughout Britain and Ireland playing swing, pop and soul music to delighted audiences. They headlined the Cork Jazz festival in 2008.

Lee’s versatility as a performer is impressive.  In addition to working as a self-contained solo artiste, he performs as a duo with a pianist, with a jazz quintet and indeed with his full seventeen piece Big Band .

His one man show has been seen across the country in various theatres and large venues e.g Motorpoint Arena Cardiff.

In 2008, Lee wrote Come Fly with Me – the Big Band Musical in collaboration Steven Coleman (Only the Brave). The show was directed by Richard Tunley and received its premiere at the Wales Milennium Centre in 2009 to critical acclaim. The show – full sized musical comedy featuring a cast of fifteen and a live Big Band on stage throughout – was the subject of an ITV documentary, following its progress and is currently in a state of re –write in readiness for a UK tour through 2015.

This Christmas Lee makes his debut in pantomime playing the evil villain Fleshcreep in Jack & The Beanstalk (RCT Theatres).

Lee is available for: