Leyla Josephine is a multi-disciplinary artist from Glasgow. Her practice is rooted in language, play, visual storytelling and the expression of humanness.
Leyla’s first short film Groom was Scottish BAFTA and Critics Circle Award Nominated. She was named as one of Screen International Rising Stars 2022. She is currently developing two feature films.
Her poetry book In Public/In Private was released with Burning Eye Books, with poem Dear John Berger winning Best Single Poem Performed Forward Prize 2024.
Her poetry has been featured in numerous anthologies, magazines and newspapers. She has been commissioned to write for several large international brands and organisations.
Her theatre show Daddy Drag was the winner of 2019 Autopsy Award celebrating artists making ground-breaking work in Scotland, her show Hopeless was shortlisted for Saboteur’s Best Spoken Word show 2017. She developed a play with National Theatre of Scotland through The John Mathers Rising Star Award and her play Ms Campbell’s Class 4th Period was published with Bloomsbury Press in 2023 and performed globally as part of Wonderfools Positive Stories for Negative Times.
Alongside her own practice, Leyla teaches others to be creative through writing and drama, working in extensive different social contexts with notable organisations like Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, The Scottish Government in Ireland and Women of The World Festival.
Leyla’s online writing workshops Throw Enough Mud aims to connect writers and build communities through creative play and reflection.
Leyla goes by her full name Leyla Coll-O’Reilly for her film writing/directing you can find out more about her screen work at www.lcorfilms.co.uk