Previous Work…
Layla’s work includes:
theatre, public art, documentary (film & theatre), BSL integrated theatre, work with and for children & young people, puppetry, classical music, research and politics.
She works in English and Arabic.
French is a work-in-progress.
Still from documentary short mosaic/فسيفساء (Co -created with Eleanor Nawal, 2021)
Upcoming
Jerwood Assistant Director
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo by Rajiv Joseph (dir. Omar Elerian) Young Vic. Winter 2025/26
Resident Director
Single White Female by Rebecca Reid (dir. Gordon Greenberg) UK Tour. Spring/Summer 2026
Director
A Doll’s House adapted by Tanika Gupta Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Spring 2026
Selected credits below:
Director (Theatre):
Untitled Rachel Corrie Project (R&D) by Tara Kelly and Rafaella Marcus (2025)
HOME by Roann Hassani McCloskey - Grand Junction // Shubbak Festival (2025)
i broke my phone (Rehearsed Reading) by Joe Kerridge - Theatre503 (2025)
Ostan: New Writing Showcase - Park90, Park Theatre (2024)
True Story by Eleanor Nawal (ACE-Funded R&D and Rehearsed Reading) (2024)
Hagstone House by Hannah Khalil (R&D) - Tamasha Theatre (2024)
succession theme is my ringtone by Joe Kerridge - Studio, Rose Theatre Kingston (2024)
shai-ann by Joe Kerridge (Rehearsed Reading) - Albany Theatre (2023)
She is a Place Called Home by Esohe Uwadiae - VAULT Festival (2020) - shortlisted for Stagedoor People’s Choice Award, VAULT Origins Award, Underbelly Untapped Award. Longlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award.
Director (Film):
mosaic/فسيفساء - Co-Directed with Eleanor Nawal
Selected for the BFI London Film Festival Work-in-Progress Showcase and Sheffield DocFest (2021). Resident at P21 Gallery, SEAS Brighton, Shubbak Festival, and research fellows Eastside Projects // New Art Exchange.
Associate / Assistant / Staff / Resident Director (Theatre):
Associate Director - Jesus Christ Superstar dir. Paul Hart - Watermill Theatre (2025) - Director of BSL-integrated performances
Associate Director - First Encounters: The Tempest dir. Aaron Parsons - UK Tour // The Other Place, RSC (2025)
Staff Director - A Tupperware of Ashes by Tanika Gupta, dir. Pooja Ghai - Dorfman, National Theatre (2024) - Director of BSL-integrated performances
Associate Director - The Empress by Tanika Gupta, dir. Pooja Ghai - Lyric Hammersmith (2023) - Director of BSL-integrated performances
Assistant Director - The Empress by Tanika Gupta, dir. Pooja Ghai - RSC (2023) - Director of BSL-integrated performances
Assistant Director - Hakawatis by Hannah Khalil, dir. Pooja Ghai - Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe // Tamasha (2022)
Associate and Puppetry Director - Caucasian Chalk Circle dir. Christopher Haydon - Rose Theatre Kingston (2022)
Assistant Director - 7 Pomegranate Seeds by Colin Teevan, dir. Melly Still - Rose Theatre Kingston (2021)
Associate to the Artistic Director - The Walk with Little Amal - European Tour // Good Chance // The Walk Productions
Producer:
Associate Producer - True Story by Eleanor Nawal, ACE-Funded R&D (2024)
Creative Producer - Little Amal’s Spring Gathering, The Walk Productions // King’s Cross Granary Square (2023)
Co-Producer - My Brother’s Keeper by Mahad Ali, Theatre503 (2023)
Assistant Producer - Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with the man who used to hit her) by Martha Watson Allpress, UK Tour (2022)
Assistant Producer - The Walk with Little Amal, European Tour // Good Chance // The Walk Productions (2021)
Researcher:
Co-Author for Spark Insights on Research Report - Exploring Barriers to Funding and Support Experienced by Marginalised Community Businesses: Insights, Solutions and Recommendations for Funding and Infrastructure Organisations. (2023)
Co-Researcher and Co-Author for Spark Insights and Macmillan on Research Report - Insights and Evaluation of People’s Lived Experience of Cancer (2022)
Author for Spark Insights on Research Report - Support provisions for ethnic minority communities across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021)
Full CV available on request
Longer term positions include:
SHIFT Associate - Tamasha Theatre (2025)
Research and Resource Directory Manager - Spark Insights (2020 - 2023)
Peter Hall Emerging Artist Fellow - Rose Theatre Kingston (2021 - 2022)
Project Coordinator -CEASE UK (Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation) (2020 - 2021)
Young Associate - Shubbak Festival (2019 - 2021)
Read music
Puppetry
Directing children and young people
Workshop facilitation
Public event hosting