His most critically acclaimed work was the "Making of Australian Drama" in two volumes, covering the history of the genre from the 1830s until 1985.

[2] He then worked for The West Australian as a journalist before travelling to London to study at University College on a scholarship.

It was while there that he married fellow Western Australian, Coralie Clarke, who had been a sub-editor during his time on the Black Swan.

[1] Rees returned to Australia in 1936 to become the Australian Broadcasting Commission's first federal drama editor in Sydney.

In 1938 he helped establish the Playwrights' Advisory Board with Doris Fitton and Rex Rientis.