Leisa has worked extensively in theatre and education as a director, teacher and animateur. She began her theatre career as an actor, but soon realised that directing was what she really loved. Early directing credits include Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant (winner of the Lloyd's Bank Challenge at The National Theatre), The Golden Age by JR Gurney (North East Tour) Dedwyth Jone's The Charmer of Splot at The Etcetera Theatre in Camden and Super Ted and Denis the Menace for the children's season in Aberystwyth.

Leisa then taught for five years at Bexleyheath School in Kent, where she was Head of Drama. She directed and produced many plays there, forming a company with her A-Level group (The Berts and Stans), who made vibrant productions such as Blood Wedding and Glengarry Glen Ross, and which sold out at The Edinburgh Festival.

Since leaving the school in 2001, Leisa has used her experience in education and theatre as co-ordinator of the 6th Playwright's Lab for PAL, and with company of angels for whom she co-created The Gap Project. She has also produced an annual arts festival for children in Bexleyheath, and led a team of young journalists at Bath's International Puppet Festival.

She has continued to direct, most recently setting up a new company with a group of comedians who make original theatre for kids. Their inaugural project was Dogman (Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh and The Riverside Studios, London). They are currently making an improvised show called The Yarnbards about an oddball family who tell unusual stories…

Leisa co-devised/directed the first Gap Theatre Project, The Story Museum, with Renata Allen. She subsequently co-directed the 2005 Gap Theatre Project, You Zoo, with John Retallack and devised and managed the project's adaptation to a rural Cambridgeshire school, with The 25 Farewells in 2007.

back to people