Leanne is a Dutch scenographer working in the field of theatre, opera and performance design across Europe. She creates experimental theatre experiences that bring singer and audience closer together by removing stage and the unwritten rules of theatre.
She is currently working on a double bill of Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire and Britten’s The Turn of The Screw in which she explores the different dramatic possibilities which enmeshing the two texts may yield to open out ideas in each.
Besides her more experimental designs she also works in a more traditional design process with a director, creating set and costumes that derive both from dramaturgical research and intuitive exploration.
Together with the new founded company Vopera she created her first online opera film L’enfant et les Sortilèges, which received mainly 5 star reviews and several awards, including The Digital Classical Music, Southbank Sky Arts and The Royal Philharmonic Society Awards.
Assisted designers
Roel van Berckelaer
Tim van Steenbergen
Hildegard Bechtler
Lizzie Clachan
Joanna Parker
Wojciech Dziedzic
Sacha Zwiers
Jan Taminiau
Contact Leanne
Upcoming
All is Energy Jr.- Scenography, Costume & Lighting design
Director Khouloud Zaher & Wensley Pique | Sound designer Izak de Dreu [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
The body as a landscape (working title) – Costume design
Performance by Monali Meher [Vienna Biennale AT]
Bohuslav Martin Double Bill – Scenography & Costume Design
Director Rachael Hewer | Light designer Kevin Treacy [Royal Academy Opera UK]
Previous
2024
De Wetten – Scenography assistant
Director Aline Arbo | Scenographer Roel van Berckelaer [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2023
Oer en andere tijden – Costume design assistant
Director Guy Cassiers | Costume designer Tim van Steenbergen [Hotel Modern & International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
De Favoriet – Costume design assistant
Director Karin Junger | Costume designer Tine Deseure [Polar Bear, Krater Films, BNNVARA NL]
De Nederlandsche Cocaïnefabriek – Costume design
Director Muriël Besemer [De Tafel van Vijf NL]
Pulang – Costume design assistant
Director Martin Schwab | Costume designer Daphne Jonas [Kepler Film NL]
Shakespeare tour – Scenography
Director Muriël Besemer [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Hamlet & Ophelia – Costume design assistant
Director Mateusz Staniak | Costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic [Toneelschuur NL]
Penthesilea – Costume design assistant
Director Eline Arbo | Costume designer Alva Brosten [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Bloedbruiloft – Costume design assistant
Director Wim Vandekeybus | Costume designer Isabel Lhoas [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2022
Mijn Lieve Gunsteling – Costume design assistant
Director Ivo van Hove | Costume designer Ann D’Huys [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Lehman Trilogy – Costume design assistant
Director Guy Cassiers | Costume designer Devastator [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Drowning the innocence – Workshops with Birmingham community
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
Director Ivo van Hove | Costume designer Ann D’Huys [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Judas – Costume design assistant
Writer and director Robert Icke | Costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2021
The Doctor – Scenography and Costume design assistant
Writer and director Robert Icke | Designer Hildegard Bechtler [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Drowning the innocence – Workshops with Birmingham community
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
Composer Maurice Ravel | Director Rachael Hewer | Conductor Lee Reynolds [In collaboration with London Philharmonic Orchestra]
After Nora – Scenography assistant
Writer and director Robert Icke | Scenographer Hildegard Bechtler [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
2019
The Homecoming – Costume design assistant
Writer Harold Pinter | Director Nanouk Leopold | Costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic [International Theatre Amsterdam NL]
Nixon in China – Scenography assistant
Composer John Adams | Director Daniel Kramer | Scenographer Lizzie Clachan [Staatsopera Hannover DU]
2018
La Traviata – Stage & Costume design
Composer Giuseppe Verdi | Director Rachael Hewer [Devon Opera UK]
Jenufa – Scenography assistant
Composer Leoš Janáček | Director Katie Mitchell | Scenographer Lizzie Clachan [Nationale opera & Ballet NL]
On Rafferty’s hill – Scenography assistant
Writer Marina Carr | Director Caitríona McLaughlin | Scenographer Joanna Parker [Abbey Theatre Dublin IE]
2017
Jenufa – Scenography assistant
Composer Leoš Janáček | Director Katie Mitchell | Scenographer Lizzie Clachan [Nationale opera & Ballet NL]
The Suppliant Woman – Scenography assistant
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 – Scenography
Composer Richard Wagner [Hackney Showroom UK]
Carmen – Scenography assistant
Composer Georges Bizet | Director Annabel Arden | Scenographer Joanna Parker [The Grange Festival UK]
Turandot – Scenography assistant
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
Composer Richard Wagner [Royal Central School of Speech & Drama UK]
2014
Under Milk Wood – Stage & Costume design
Writer Dylan Thomas | Director Hans van den Boom [HKU Theater NL]
De Zone – Costume design assistant
Director Alexandra Broeder | Costume designer Sacha Zwiers [Alexandra Broeder in co-production with Frascati and Theater aan het Spui NL]
Mamma – Costume design assistant
Director Alexandra Broeder | Costume designer Sacha Zwiers [NTjong in co-production with Frascati NL]
2013
Sold! (Verkocht!) – Stage design
Writer Roel Adam | Director Daniël van Klaveren & Paul Knieriem | Costume designer Jorine van Beek [De Toneelmakerij NL]
Hoek – Costume design assistant
Director Boukje Schweigman | Stage & Light designer Theun Mosk | Costume designer Sacha Zwiers [Universum Schweigman& NL]
Gone with the Wind – Scenography assistant
Writer Margaret Mitchell | Director Madeleine Matzer | Stage designer Sacha Zwiers | Costume designer Jan Taminiau [MATZER & Bos Theaterproducties NL]
Hollandse Luchten I: Jeremia – Scenography assistant
Directors/Performers Sadettin Kirmiziyüz & Marjolijn van Heemstra | Designer Sacha Zwiers [Trouble Man in co-production with Frascati Producties NL]
Army (Leger) – Design & 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
Gallery Liefhertje en de Grote Witte Reus [Den Hague NL] & Theater Kikker [Utrecht NL]
2012
Cornea – Assistant Art direction
Writer & Director Jochem de Vries | Production designer Rosie Stapel [NFI Film Productions NL]
Happiness, unnaturally delicious (Geluk, onnatuurlijk lekker) – Interaction design
Concept & realisation in collaboration with Roel Traa [Nieuw Utrechts Toneel NL]
2011
Hoe overleef ik… – Assistant Art direction
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
Director Rosanne Pel | Production designer Gwendolyn Keasberry [Dutch Film Festival NL]
Het is niet alle dagen kermis – Stage & Costume design
Director Denise Lukkenaer [HKU Theater NL]