Leigh Lule is a Ugandan-Australian actress, writer and theatre maker with a passion for community engagement through creativity. As one half of the powerhouse writing team behind the web series CEEBS, Lule brings a love of dark comedy and surrealism to the project with her co-creator Betiel Beyin.
Lule’s career is blossoming with recent screenwriting work including Turn Up The Volume (ABC), a script-attachment on Heartbreak High (Netflix), and acting roles in Gnomes (Stan) and the award-winning theatre production Trophy Boys.
Lule’s commitment to community collaboration has seen her deliver numerous drama workshops for young people throughout Melbourne’s Western suburbs. Lule’s creative facilitation work has led to collaborations with the likes of RAWCUS, Arts Centre Melbourne’s ‘New Writers Collective’ and guest lecture at Melbourne University.
In 2023, Lule founded the digital publication Ubuntu Magazine which platforms the work of young, emerging and mid-career creatives throughout Melbourne, Australia. ‘Ubuntu’ has many variations throughout the Bantu language groups of Africa conveying a philosophy of focusing on community care and an understanding that you are a part of a past, present and future collective. An ethos that is ever-present in Lule’s creative work.
In this Colour Box Studio interview, Lule discusses her experience as a producer-in-residence at Next Wave, working collaboratively and finding inspiration from community in the Westside of Melbourne.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
I’m a Ugandan-Australian actress, writer and theatre maker. A lot of my work has also involved community engagement and creative facilitation. I love writing/creating collaboratively, and I often gravitate towards projects that are darkly comedic and a bit surreal.
How did you start your creative practice and why?
After highschool, I was really craving a creative outlet and that’s when I found Western Edge; a theatre company that devises and performs shows with young people. Western Edge is where I met the majority of my artistic mentors, and made friendships that became creative collaboration-ships too. It’s where Betiel Beyin (the co-creator/co-writer of CEEBS) and I first met and started writing together.
Where did you grow up and how has it influenced your practice?
I was really lucky to grow up in the Westside of Melbourne, there’s such a strong sense of art, culture and community here. It’s definitely influenced my humour and the kind of settings and characters I gravitate to in my work. Honestly, I don’t see myself leaving the west any time soon, it’s always changing and teaching me new things. Plus, when the sun sets I can see the silhouette of the You Yangs (it’s still a 30min drive away, but it’s nice to have right there!).
Tell us about your past creative projects.
While I was a producer-in-residence at Next Wave, I curated community-focused events and founded the digital publication, ‘Ubuntu Magazine’. As a screenwriter, I’ve written for ABC ME’s ‘Turn Up The Volume’, and was the Script Attachment for Season 3 of Netflix’s ‘Heartbreak High’. In terms of acting, earlier this year I was shooting for a Stan series called ‘Gnomes’, and I’ve just finished the second national tour of the theatre production, ‘Trophy Boys’.
Tell us about your current project?
CEEBS is a comedy web series that follows two neurotic bestfriends, Zion and Ruby, as they try to save their local youth centre from being shut down. It’s half political satire, half platonic rom-com, and overall a love-letter to the youth spaces that Betiel (my co-creator/writer) and I grew up around and now work in.
Who or what inspires your practice?
I’m heavily inspired by my creative community, it’s not an overstatement to say they’ve taught me everything I know.
Where do you feel most creative and why?
In writers rooms and development/devising rooms. I think my creativity and imagination is the strongest when I’m working collaboratively. I’m in love with the process of ideas building upon other ideas – when somebody makes an offer or pitches something, and it’s like lighting a spark that just grows and grows.
What do you hope audiences take from your work?
I hope audiences find joy, laughter and catharsis in my work.
What gets you through creative challenges or tough industry times?
My creative community. I depend on them so much. Whether it’s seeking industry advice or guidance, or being able to share a scene or idea and have them be completely honest. Also, I’m an easily distractible person (thank you ADHD), and they really help keep me on track.
What future projects are you looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to just writing and creating more, and continuing to work with my communities and collaborators. I’m not entirely sure what the future holds in terms of creative projects, but I’m excited by the possibilities of what they could be!
Whose work are you digging at the moment?
Abdul Yusuf (@rounddrop). His photography is so beautiful and cosy!
Where can we find and follow you online?
You can find me on instagram @leigh.lule and watch CEEBS @ceebsseries 😊
Check out Ubuntu Magazine here
CEEBS is produced by Nikki Tran and Colour Box Studio founder Amie Batalibasi. Make sure you’re following us on TikTok and Instagram so you don’t miss an episode.
We recently interviewed Leigh Lule’s writing partner, Betiel Beyin.
Check it out here.
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