Home – Family Theatre Performance

Layla Madanat

Director, dramaturg, producer and researcher. Following a Master’s Degree in Gender, Development and Globalisation, and an Undergraduate in History, she has worked across the arts and social impact sectors to create live relationships between arts projects and social justice causes.

As an artist, she has worked in institutions such as the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, Theatre503 and Rose Theatre Kingston, and was Associate to the Artistic Director on Little Amal’s 2021 “The Walk”. Her documentary mosaic/فسيفساء (co-created with Eleanor Nawal) was selected for the BFI London Film Festival and Sheffield Doc Fest. As a Producer, she has produced work for Theatre503 and The Walk, and was part of the 22/23 Stage One Bridge the Gap cohort.

In the social impact sector, she can often be found leading qualitative research reports and projects for social justice organisations.

Layla is an Associate Tutor at the Guildford School of Acting, and a Trustee on the Board of Trustees for the Young Vic and the National Student Drama Festival.

Roann Hassani McCloskey

An Algerian-British writer & storyteller. Their work includes their 2019 award-winning sell-out, one-person show, My Father the Tantric Masseur (Soho theatre, Edinburgh fringe) & Who Murdered My Cat?  (Popcorn award, BBC Writersroom longisted).

2021 saw Roann chosen for BBC London voices, participating in SAFAR film school for emerging Arab Filmmakers as well as having pieces published in Dardishi’s Zine. 2022 saw Roann’s debut at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre starring in Hanna Khalil’s Hakwatis. 2023 has seen Roann chosen for The North Wall Catalyst 2023 programme writers residency; Co-create the sell out show  ‘Besharam’ (Kala Sangham) and continue to co-host Last Thursday Club – a monthly Story-telling night in North London. Roann has become co-artistic director of Bet’n Lev Theatre company where they co-wrote and currently perform in their sell out show ‘ReMythed’. Roann is an active member of the British Arab Writers group as a creative and a consultant and is currently playing Lady Macduff in Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe.

For the past 7 years Roann has facilitated across the globe (Singapore, Latin America, China, US, UK, Europe and Africa) to Leaders ranging from global tech companies, Charities, Schools and Government, on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity work. This work has seen Roann lead workshops to 100’s of thousands of leaders across the world.

Roann’s writing and storytelling finds the heart and humour that runs through tragedy, and centres around their curiosity and passion for bringing stories usually left at the margins to the centre where they belong.

‘Ask her to read a train timetable and she’d have her audience in stitches’ – British Theatre Guide.

Riwa Saab

A cross-disciplinary artist who works with space, sound, and words. Through braiding together the crafts of theatre, poetry, and music, she interrogates how art puts people and relationships at the centre of the political narratives we inhabit. She studied Performance and Creative Enterprise at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Her sound design credits include: