Layla Izabela

I am an actor, deviser, and dancer, based in Brooklyn, NY.

I received my BFA in Acting/International Performance Ensemble at Pace University and have since been in several new works and performed Off-Broadway. I have been performing my entire life, originally through a more traditional dance pathway, and then veering in the exact right direction to theatre. I always enjoyed playing the weird, scary, blood-covered character as much as I loved playing a princess, and the more time passes, the more blood there seems to be.

Devised and new works are where I find the most creative fulfillment, as I am as much a creator as I am an actor; I am full of ideas for anyone who wants to hear them. Originating a character is an honor I have been lucky to have many times, and I take putting my stamp on a brand-new role very seriously. All of my inspiration starts with movement, whether that is pulling from my dance background, doing hours of contact improv, playing silly games with the group I’m working with, or my Suzuki/Viewpoints training. Since I discovered Suzuki and Viewpoints, I dove in headfirst, taking every single class and workshop available. They align both my movement and acting work and bring me genuine joy; if you ever need to find me, find the closest Suzuki training.

Currently

This summer, I went to Dubrovnik, Croatia, with Contemporary Performance Practices for an apprenticeship led by Will Bond of the Siti Company and Sarah Dowling of Punchdrunk. With Will Bond, I deepened my ongoing work with Suzuki and Viewpoints, which I have been studying nonstop this year. Training six hours a day in an incredibly small group, I received highly personalized attention and feedback. The intense, rigorous movement of Suzuki training, mixed with the creativity of Viewpoints, continues to be incredibly inspiring and fulfilling.

With Sarah Dowling, I dove headfirst into immersive theatre and contact improvisation. We spent hours every day doing contact work and experimenting with the immersive techniques she’s used in her productions. I created a five-minute immersive piece based on sound and touch, which I was able to workshop with Sarah and my peers many times over.

You can catch me performing new works written and directed by some brilliant artists on the first Monday of every month at Living Radio at Under St Marks Theater!