# Caleb Lewis

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Caleb_Lewis
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Caleb_Lewis.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Lewis
> Source revision: 1296270244
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Australian playwright and game designer

Caleb Lewis Born (1978-04-16)16 April 1978 Occupation Playwright and game designer

**Caleb Lewis** is an Australian playwright and game designer,[1] born on 16 April 1978.[2] He is known for his play *[Dogfall](/source/Dogfall)*, first produced in 2007 in [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide), [South Australia](/source/South_Australia).

## Early life and education

Lewis' father was a [diver](/source/Underwater_diving), whose job at one time was to retrieve bodies from the [Yarra River](/source/Yarra_River) in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne). He later worked on an [oil rig](/source/Oil_rig) near [Dubai](/source/Dubai), where Lewis visited him when he was 22.[3]

Lewis studied drama and playwriting at the [Flinders University](/source/Flinders_University) Drama Centre[3][4] earning a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Hons)[5] in 2001.[6] After this he was mentored by Australian dramatist [Nick Enright](/source/Nick_Enright).[5]

## Career

In 2004 Lewis' collection of short plays *Songs for the Deaf* was produced by FreshTrack Productions for the [Adelaide Fringe Festival](/source/Adelaide_Fringe_Festival). He began a two-year residency with the [Griffin Theatre Company](/source/Griffin_Theatre_Company), culminating in the world premiere of *Nailed*.[1]

Lewis has completed commissions for [Jigsaw Theatre Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jigsaw_Theatre_Company&action=edit&redlink=1) in the [Australian Capital Territory](/source/Australian_Capital_Territory) and Riverland Youth Theatre Company in South Australia.[1] His short film *Half Windsor*, directed by Sophie Miller, opened in Sydney in May 2007.[7]

After receiving funding from the [Australia Council](/source/Australia_Council_for_the_Arts)'s theatre and literature boards, his play *The Sea Bride* won the Theatrelab Emerging Playwright Award, earning a two-week workshop with playwright [Edward Albee](/source/Edward_Albee).[8][9]

His play *[Dogfall](/source/Dogfall)* opened in Adelaide at the [Bakehouse Theatre](/source/Bakehouse_Theatre) to good reviews in November 2007, and Edward Albee called the play "wonderful".[9] It was shortlisted for the 2008 [Philip Parsons Young Playwrights Award](/source/Philip_Parsons_Young_Playwrights_Award).[10]

In January 2008, *Songs for the Deaf* toured to [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong). *Men, Love and the Monkeyboy* was short-listed for the 2007 Griffin Award and is the winner of the 2008 Mitch Matthews award.[11] *Men, Love and the Monkeyboy* enjoyed successful seasons at the [Darlinghurst Theatre](/source/Darlinghurst_Theatre) and the [Riverside Theatre Parramatta](/source/Riverside_Theatre_Parramatta) in 2008.[12]

*Rust and Bone*, based on [Craig Davidson](/source/Craig_Davidson)'s short story collection of the same name, premiered in [Sydney](/source/Sydney) in 2013, earning favourable reviews.[13] Lewis began to work on creating [immersive theatre](/source/Immersive_theatre) pieces and game-based stories. His work *If There Was a Colour Darker Than Black I’d Wear It* won the 2013 Ruby Award for Innovation.[14]

In 2016 he developed an app called *The City*, which allows the player to explore the lives of four homeless characters.[15]

In 2019 he developed *A Little History Play* for the Batch Festival at [Griffin Theatre Company](/source/Griffin_Theatre_Company). This was an interactive piece where the audience guided the action in the play, and their decisions then carried over to the play's next performance.[16]

*Cathedral*, commissioned by the [State Theatre Company of South Australia](/source/State_Theatre_Company_of_South_Australia) (STCSA)[3] and staged by the in May 2022, attracted good reviews, with one reviewer calling it the highlight of STCSA's season.[17] The play centres around a [cave diver](/source/Cave_diver) diving in a cave near [Mount Gambier](/source/Mount_Gambier), and explores themes of [depression](/source/Clinical_depression), drawn from the playwright's own experience of the condition.[3] Lewis wrote in the program notes that it also reflected on the impact of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) on people's personal lives. One reviewer said it was about helplessness, hope and salvation. [Nathan O'Keefe](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nathan_O%27Keefe_(actor)&action=edit&redlink=1) took the central role in the one-hander, and it was directed by Shannon Rush.[18]

Lewis moved to [Queensland](/source/Queensland) in May 2022.[3]

## Recognition and awards

- 2003: Winner of the Naked Theatre Company's Write Now competition for *RocketBaby*[19]

- 2004: *Nailed*, shortlisted for the [Philip Parsons Young Playwrights Award](/source/Philip_Parsons_Young_Playwrights_Award)

- 2007: *Men, Love and the Monkeyboy*, shortlisted for the [Griffin Award](/source/Griffin_Award)[11]

- 2008: *Dogfall*, shortlisted for the Philip Parsons Young Playwrights Award

- 2008: *Men, Love and the Monkeyboy*, winner of the Mitch Matthews Award[11]

- 2008: Inaugural winner of the [Australian Writers Guild](/source/Australian_Writers_Guild)'s 2008 Interactive Media [AWGIE](/source/AWGIE_Awards) for his work on *Otzi – The Story of the Iceman*[20]

- 2009: *Death in Bowengabbie* nominated for best stage production at the 2009 [Adelaide Fringe Festival](/source/Adelaide_Fringe_Festival), winning a commendation for best writing[21]

- 2010: Inaugural winner of [Sally Burton](/source/Sally_Burton)'s Richard Burton Award for New Plays, for *Clinchfield*[22]

- 2010: Lewis turned down the prestigious [Philip Parsons Award](/source/Philip_Parsons_Award), in protest against the lack of [gender diversity](/source/Gender_diversity) in the company's 2010 season[23]

- 2013: [South Australian Ruby Award](/source/South_Australian_Ruby_Award) for Innovation, for *If There Was a Colour Darker Than Black I’d Wear It*.[14]

- 2023: *Cathedral*, shortlisted for Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting, [New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards](/source/New_South_Wales_Premier's_Literary_Awards)[24]

## Other roles

Lewis is a partner of the Hunter Institute for Mental Health.[5]

## Selected works

- *The River at the End of the Road*[25]

- *Destroyer of Worlds*[26]

- *The Honey Bees*[27]

- *Maggie Stone*[28]

- *Nailed*[29]

- *[Dogfall](/source/Dogfall)*[30]

- *Death in Bowengabbie*,[31]

- *Rust and Bone*[32] **Aleksander and the Robot Maid*[33]

- *In a Dark Dark Wood*[34]

- *Clinchfield*[35] (winner of the inaugural [Richard Burton](/source/Richard_Burton) Award for new plays)[22]

- *Cathedral*, produced at the Space Theatre in the [Adelaide Festival Centre](/source/Adelaide_Festival_Centre) in May 2022 by the [State Theatre Company of South Australia](/source/State_Theatre_Company_of_South_Australia)[17]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Austlit_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Austlit_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Austlit_1-2) ["Austlit — Caleb Lewis"](https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A89110). Austlit. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-.._2-0)** [""Famous Playwrights from Australia""](https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-playwrights-from-australia/reference). Ranker. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-abccathedral_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-abccathedral_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-abccathedral_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-abccathedral_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-abccathedral_3-4) Smith, Matthew (13 May 2022). ["New State Theatre Company play Cathedral dives into issues of grief and depression"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-14/play-cathedral-explores-dark-hole-of-grief-and-diving/101061372). *ABC News*. [Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation). Retrieved 9 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Flinders Drama Centre Graduates"](https://www.flindersdramacentregraduates.com/). *Flinders Drama Centre Graduates*. Retrieved 9 June 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bio_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bio_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bio_5-2) ["Bio"](https://www.caleb-lewis.com/bio). *Caleb Lewis*. Retrieved 9 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Class of 2001"](https://www.flindersdramacentregraduates.com/2001.html). *Flinders Drama Centre*. Retrieved 9 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [""Half Windsor""](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/half-windsor-2007/25928/). Screen Australia. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Drama Centre: Graduate profiles"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081201011848/http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/drama_centre/). [Flinders University](/source/Flinders_University). Archived from [the original](http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/drama_centre/) on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rt2007_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rt2007_9-1) Bollen, Jonathan (December 2007 – January 2008). ["War at a distance"](https://www.realtime.org.au/war-at-a-distance/). *[RealTime](/source/RealTime)* (82): 33. Retrieved 9 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aso_10-0)** ["The Philip Parsons Young Playwright's Award 2008"](http://www.australianstage.com.au/news/sydney/2008-philip-parsons-memorial-lecture-2037.html). Australian Stage Online. Retrieved 7 December 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-monkey_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-monkey_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-monkey_11-2) ["The Mitch Mathews Award"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190303181708/http://pdproductions.org.au/html/mitch.html). pdproductions.org.au. Archived from [the original](http://www.pdproductions.org.au/html/mitch.html) on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [""Men, Love and the Monkeyboy Shaman Productions""](https://australianstage.com.au/200803281292/reviews/sydney/men-love-and-the-monkeyboy-%7C-shaman-productions.html). AustralianStage. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Rust and Bone at Griffin Theatre Company](http://www.griffintheatre.com.au/whats-on/rust-and-bone)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-black_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-black_14-1) ["Caleb Lewis"](https://mollisonkeightley.com/artists/caleb-lewis/). *Mollison Keightley Management*. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Watch an interview with playwright Caleb Lewis"](https://www.blasttheory.co.uk/news-item/watch-an-interview-with-playwright-caleb-lewis/). *Blast Theory*. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["5 Questions with Caleb Lewis"](https://griffintheatre.com.au/blog/5-questions-with-caleb-lewis/). *Griffin Theatre Company*. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cathedralindaily_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cathedralindaily_17-1) Bramwell, Murray (10 May 2022). ["Theatre review: Cathedral"](https://indaily.com.au/inreview/theatre/2022/05/11/theatre-review-cathedral/). *[InDaily](/source/InDaily)*. Retrieved 9 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cathedralglam_18-0)** Barnes, Adrian (11 May 2022). ["Theatre Review: Cathedral (World Premiere)"](https://glamadelaide.com.au/theatre-review-cathedral-world-premiere/). *Glam Adelaide*. Retrieved 9 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [""The Actor as Storyteller: From Performer to Theatremaker""](https://www.thehubstudio.com.au/the-actor-as-storyteller-from-performer-to-theatremaker/). The Hub Studio. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["2008 Awgie Award Winners"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081204062726/http://www.awg.com.au/artman/publish/article_573.shtml). Australian Writers' Guild. Archived from [the original](http://www.awg.com.au/artman/publish/article_573.shtml) on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [""Bakehouse Theatre Presents DEATH IN BOWENGABBIE""](https://www.broadwayworld.com/adelaide/article/Bakehouse-Theatre-Presents-DEATH-IN-BOWENGABBIE-424-510-20140423). BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RBA_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RBA_22-1) [""Submissions Open – Richard Burton Award for New Plays""](https://australianstage.com.au/201102054178/news/industry-news/submissions-open-%E2%80%93-richard-burton-award-for-new-plays.html). Australian Stage. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Fulton, Adam (15 March 2010). ["Playwright opts for credibility over cash"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/playwright-opts-for-credibility-over-cash-20100315-gdtw41.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 25 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Cathedral"](https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/nick-enright-prize-playwriting/2023-shortlisted-cathedral). *State Library of NSW*. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["The River at the End of the Road – HotHouse Theatre"](https://hothousetheatre.com.au/season-2018/the-river-at-the-end-of-the-road/). Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Fringe Review: Destroyer of Worlds"](https://glamadelaide.com.au/fringe-review-destroyer-of-worlds/). *Glam Adelaide*. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["The Honey Bees"](https://redstitch.net/gallery/the-honey-bees/). *Red Stitch*. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Maggie Stone"](https://www.currency.com.au/books/drama/maggie-stone/). *Currency Press*. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Nailed"](https://australianplays.org/script/ASC-934). *Australian Plays*. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["moving and shaking"](https://www.realtime.org.au/moving-and-shaking/). 30 November 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["Review: Death in Bowengabbie"](https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/review-death-in-bowengabbie-old-fitzroy-theatre/news-story/43f1516df4d21e25e9b10a98aed39fcb). *Daily Telegraph*. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["Review: Rust And Bone, Griffin Theatre, Sydney"](https://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2013/01/21/review-rust-and-bone-griffin-theatre-sydney/). *Crikey!*. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** Blake, Jason (4 July 2011). ["Friendship forged against the odds in robot world"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/friendship-forged-against-the-odds-in-robot-world-20110704-1gywf.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["In a Dark Dark Wood"](https://barkinggecko.com.au/play/in-a-dark-dark-wood/). *Barking Gecko Theatre*. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Circus elephant tale judged jumbo effort"](https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/circus-elephant-tale-judged-jumbo-effort-ng-ya-195161). *[The West Australian](/source/The_West_Australian)*. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.caleb-lewis.com/)

- [Caleb Lewis](https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/247337) on *[AusStage](/source/AusStage)*

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Caleb Lewis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Lewis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Lewis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.