Leanne is a Dutch designer working across theatre, opera, and performance design throughout Europe. Alongside traditional collaborations with directors, she develops experimental theatre experiences that bring performer and audience closer together by removing stage and the unwritten rules of theatre.
During COVID, she collaborated with the newly founded company Vopera to create the online opera film Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortilèges, which went on to win the Southbank Sky Arts Award for Opera, the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Opera and Music Theatre, and the Digital Classical Music Award.
Leanne has held positions with International Theatre Amsterdam, Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Abbey Theatre Dublin, Opera North, The Grange Festival, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Britten Pears Arts and Hanover State Opera. Not only creating her own designs but also assisting internationally designers such as Hildegard Bechtler, Lizzie Clachan, Joanna Parker, Wojciech Dziedzic, Roel Van Berckelaer, Tim Van Steenbergen, Alva Brosten, Ann D’Huys, and Isabel Lhoas.
Upcoming
The Cambridge Greek Play – Set & costume design // Opera
Composer Richard Causton | Director Rosalind Parker [Cambridge Arts Theatre UK]
Gianni Schicchi & The 7 Deadly Sins – Set & Costume Design // Opera
Composer Giacomo Puccini & Kurt Weill | Director Rachael Hewer | Lighting designer Alex Brok [Volksoper Vienna CH]
King Arthur – Scenography // Opera
Composer Henry Purcell | Director Rosalind Parker [Britten Pears Arts UK]
Previous
2025
The Copenhagen Trilogy – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Director Eline Arbo | Scenographer Pascal Leboucq | Costume designer Rebekka Wörmann | Lighting designer Varja Klosse [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
A Visit to friends – Set & Costume Design // Opera
Composer Collin Mattews | Librettist: William Boyd | Director Rachael Hewer | Video designer Sasha Balmazi Owen | Lighting designer Danny Vavrecka [Britten Pears Arts, Aldeburg Festival UK]
Giovanni’s Room – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Director Eline Arbo | Scenographer Roel van Berckelaer | Costume designer Rebekka Wörmann | Lighting designer Varja Klosse [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2024
Double Bill [Comedy on the bridge, Twice Alexander] – Set & Costume design // Opera
Composer Bohuslav Martinu | Director Rachael Hewer | Conductor Lada Valešová | Lighting designer Kevin Treacy [Royal Academy Opera UK]
Freeing the land – Costume design // Art performance
Performance by Monali Meher [Venice Art Biennale VIVAAR VENEZIA 2024 IT]
All is Energy – Scenography, Costume & Lighting design // Theatre
Director Khouloud Zaher & Wensley Pique | Composer Izak de Dreu [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
De Wetten – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Director Eline Arbo | Scenographer Roel van Berckelaer | Costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic | Lighting designer Varja Klosse [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2023
Oer en andere tijden – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Guy Cassiers | Animation Hotel Modern | Video designer Bram Delafonteyne | Costume designer Tim van Steenbergen [Hotel Modern & International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
De Nederlandsche Cocaïnefabriek – Costume design // Theatre
Director Muriël Besemer | Game & set designer Judith Hofland | Lighting designer Claes Meijer [De Tafel van Vijf NL]
Shakespeare tour – Scenography // Theatre
Director Muriël Besemer [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Hamlet & Ophelia – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Mateusz Staniak | Costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic [Toneelschuur NL]
Penthesilea – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Eline Arbo | Scenographer Pascal Leboucq | Costume designer Alva Brosten | Lighting designer Varja Klosse [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Bloedbruiloft – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Wim Vandekeybus | Scenographer Gijs Van Vaerenbergh | Costume designer Isabel Lhoas [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2022
Mijn Lieve Gunsteling – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Ivo van Hove | Scenography Jan Versweyveld | Costume designer Ann D’Huys [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Lehman Trilogy – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Guy Cassiers | Costume designer Devastator [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Drowning the innocence part II – Scenography // Opera
Double bill: Pierrot Lunaire & The Turn of the Screw
_underscore production in collaboration with Rosalind Parker, Ryan Munroe and Emma-Kate Matthews [Moseley Road Baths, Birmingham UK]
The Damned – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Ivo van Hove | Scenography Jan Versweyveld | Costume designer Ann D’Huys [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Judas – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Writer and director Robert Icke | Scenography Hildegard Bechtler | Costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2021
The Doctor – Scenography and Costume design assistant // Theatre
Writer and director Robert Icke | Scenography & costume design Hildegard Bechtler [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Drowning the innocence part I – Scenography // Opera
Double bill: Pierrot Lunaire & The Turn of the Screw
_underscore production in collaboration with Rosalind Parker, Ryan Munroe and Emma-Kate Matthews [Moseley Road Baths, Birmingham UK]
2020
L’Enfant et les Sortilèges by VOPERA – Designer // Opera
Composer Maurice Ravel | Director Rachael Hewer | Conductor Lee Reynolds [In collaboration with London Philharmonic Orchestra]
Children of Nora – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Writer and director Robert Icke | Scenographer Hildegard Bechtler [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2019
The Homecoming – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Writer Harold Pinter | Director Nanouk Leopold | Costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Nixon in China – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Composer John Adams | Director Daniel Kramer | Scenographer Lizzie Clachan [Staatsopera Hannover DU]
2018
La Traviata – Stage & Costume design // Opera
Composer Giuseppe Verdi | Director Rachael Hewer [Devon Opera UK]
Jenufa – Scenography assistant // Opera
Composer Leoš Janáček | Director Katie Mitchell | Scenographer Lizzie Clachan [Nationale opera & Ballet NL]
On Rafferty’s hill – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Writer Marina Carr | Director Caitríona McLaughlin | Scenographer Joanna Parker [Abbey Theatre Dublin IE]
2017
The Suppliant Woman – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Translator David Greig | Director Ramin Gray | Scenographer Lizzie Clachan [Actors Touring Company & Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh UK, Hongkong Arts Festival HK]
[de]contruction, graduation project part 2 // Opera
Composer Richard Wagner [Hackney Showroom UK]
Carmen – Scenography assistant // Opera
Composer Georges Bizet | Director Annabel Arden | Scenographer Joanna Parker [The Grange Festival UK]
Turandot – Scenography assistant // Opera
Composer Giacomo Puccini | Director Annabel Arden | Scenographer Joanna Parker [Opera North UK]
2016
Prelude to a destructive journey into Wagner’s Bayreuth, graduation project part 1 – Scenography // Opera
Composer Richard Wagner [Royal Central School of Speech & Drama UK]
2014
Under Milk Wood – Stage & Costume design // Theatre
Writer Dylan Thomas | Director Hans van den Boom [HKU Theater NL]
De Zone – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Alexandra Broeder | Costume designer Sacha Zwiers [Alexandra Broeder in co-production with Frascati and Theater aan het Spui NL]
Mamma – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Alexandra Broeder | Costume designer Sacha Zwiers [NTjong in co-production with Frascati NL]
2013
Sold! (Verkocht!) – Set design // Theatre
Writer Roel Adam | Director Daniël van Klaveren & Paul Knieriem | Costume designer Jorine van Beek [De Toneelmakerij NL]
Hoek – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Boukje Schweigman | Stage & Light designer Theun Mosk | Costume designer Sacha Zwiers [Universum Schweigman& NL]
Gone with the Wind – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Writer Margaret Mitchell | Director Madeleine Matzer | Stage designer Sacha Zwiers | Costume designer Jan Taminiau [MATZER & Bos Theaterproducties NL]
Hollandse Luchten I: Jeremia – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Directors/Performers Sadettin Kirmiziyüz & Marjolijn van Heemstra | Designer Sacha Zwiers [Trouble Man in co-production with Frascati Producties NL]
Army (Leger) – Design & Performance // Art performance
Concept & realisation in collaboration with Tosca de Jong, Tamara Griffioen & Nina van der Mark | Festival de Basis [Airbase Soesterberg NL]
Never coming home again (Nooit meer thuiskomen) – Design & Performance // Art performance
Gallery Liefhertje en de Grote Witte Reus [Den Hague NL] & Theater Kikker [Utrecht NL]
2012
Cornea – Assistant Art direction // Film&tv
Writer & Director Jochem de Vries | Production designer Rosie Stapel [NFI Film Productions NL]
Happiness, unnaturally delicious (Geluk, onnatuurlijk lekker) – Interaction design // Theatre
Concept & realisation in collaboration with Roel Traa [Nieuw Utrechts Toneel NL]
2011
Hoe overleef ik… – Assistant Art direction // Film&tv
Writer Francine Oomen | Scenario writers Carly Schuit & Maarten Lebens | Director Remy van Heugten & Ties Schenk | Production designer Minka Mooren [Lemming Film NL]
Heraut – Art Direction // Film &tv
Director Rosanne Pel | Production designer Gwendolyn Keasberry [Dutch Film Festival NL]
Het is niet alle dagen kermis – Stage & Costume design // Theatre
Director Denise Lukkenaer [HKU Theater NL]