Previous Work…
Still from documentary short mosaic/فسيفساء (Co -created with Eleanor Nawal, 2021)
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.
Upcoming/Currently:
Resident Director
Single White Female by Rebecca Reid (dir. Gordon Greenberg) UK Tour // JAS Theatricals. Spring/Summer 2026
Assistant Director
Under the Shadow ad. Carmen Nasr, from the film by Babak Anvari (dir. Nadia Latif) Almeida Theatre. Summer 2026
Director
Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice Bird College. Spring 2026
Selected credits below:
Director (Theatre):
A Doll’s House ad. Tanika Gupta - Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, BA 3rd Year Acting (2026)
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):
Jerwood Assistant Director - Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo dir. Omar Elerian - Young Vic (2025/26)
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-facing event hosting