Leanne is a Dutch designer working in the field of theatre, opera, performance design and film across Europe. Besides working in a traditional design proces with a director she creates experimental theatre experiences that bring performer and audience closer together by removing stage and the unwritten rules of theatre.
Together with the new founded company Vopera she created the online opera film Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortilèges, which won 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, Hanover State Opera, Tafel van Vijf, Toneelschuur, Toneelmakerij not only creating her own designs but also assisting international 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
Greek Play – Scenography & costume design // Opera
Composer Richard Causton | Director Rosalind Parker [Cambridge UK]
Kopenhagen Trilogy – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Director Aline Arbo | Scenographer Pascal Leboucq [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Previous
2025
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 [Aldeburgh Festival UK]
Giovanni’s Room – Scenography assistant // Theatre
Director Aline Arbo | Scenographer Roel van Berckelaer | Costume designer Rebakka Wörmann [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2024
Rust & Vreugd – Costume assistant // Film&tv
Director Tim Oliehoek | Costume designer Ingrid Schagen [Lemming Film & Omroep MAX NL]
Bij Heldere Hemel – Costume assistant // Film&tv
Director Lourens Blok | Costume designer Margriet Procee [NL Film & EO NL]
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 [Vienna 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 Aline Arbo | Scenographer Roel van Berckelaer [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2023
Oer en andere tijden – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Guy Cassiers | Costume designer Tim van Steenbergen [Hotel Modern & International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
De Favoriet – Costume assistant // Film&tv
Director Karin Junger | Costume designer Tine Deseure [Polar Bear, Krater Films & BNNVARA NL]
De Nederlandsche Cocaïnefabriek – Costume design // Theatre
Director Muriël Besemer [De Tafel van Vijf NL]
Pulang – Costume assistant // Film&tv
Director Martin Schwab | Costume designer Daphne Jonas [Kepler Film 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 | Costume designer Alva Brosten [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Bloedbruiloft – Costume design assistant // Theatre
Director Wim Vandekeybus | 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 – Workshops with Birmingham community // 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 – Workshops with Birmingham community // 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]
After 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
Jenufa – Scenography assistant // Opera
Composer Leoš Janáček | Director Katie Mitchell | Scenographer Lizzie Clachan [Nationale opera & Ballet NL]
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]