Layla is a designer working across live performance and film.
She studied BA Performance Design at Central St Martins with work placements at the Almeida and National Theatre. Since graduating, Layla has been working as Associate Designer for Dorsetborn and in the Art department of BBC Studios.
Layla is one of the 13 recipients of the prestigious MGCfutures busaries for 2024 and of the WAI Boost bursary, match funded by Eastern Angles. She was a Creative Associate at Jermyn Street Theatre (2020-21 cohort), part of the Catapult programme at Polka Theatre (2024-25).
Layla is known for her broad skillset across set, costume & lighting. A willing and open collabrator, she loves to explore new mediums and new stories.
LESSONS FROM TEACHER X ★★★★ ‘Smith delivers the solo performance predominantly on an oversized chess board painted red and white, created by set designer Layla Bradbeer, echoing the moves that Cam makes throughout her story as she navigates her new job, old job, and unfamiliar surroundings.’- Theatre & Arts Reviews
‘The set immediately excites: a huge blood-red heart, vertically slashes, is the backdrop, a chessboard rug with red and cream squares is littered with toddler-sized pieces, provocative underwear adorns a couple of small clothes rails, rom-com DVDs define front of stage [...] all ingredients for a quick-fire, multi-role one-woman one-act show’- Dorset Life
‘entraps you in this game of lies and sorrow Cam and Crystal play, represented also through the usage of a life-size chess set by Layla Bradbeer, who did excellently on both set and costume.’ - Bournemouth Daily Echo
RIGHT OF WAY ★★★★★ "the set is stunning [...] with its dream-like quality, sensory set and exceptional use of multimedia" - BackstageBristol
GEORGIA & THE ICEBERG ★★★★ "The star of the show has to be the puppetry penguin [...] enchanting and cheeky" - Theatre&Artsreviews
FORT ★★★ “The design create an atmospheric setting for the mysterious storyline and at times you feel things might be about to go “bump in the night”- Theatre&Artsreviews
FORT ★★★ “The lighting which really makes the production stand out. It creates a mystical feel, giving awareness that this place is truly unique”- Everything Theatre