Laila Claessen 

I am Laila Claessen (18-11-1995), a theatre maker and performer from the Netherlands, with a long-standing fascination for Vedic science running through everything I make. My practice moves fluidly between solo performance, film, site-specific theatre, sensory food experiences, and song, with the body always as my primary point of departure. Covered in dark humor, childish philosophy, and ugly metaphors that twist and turn themselves in search of a bigger meaning, I create a cute but creepy, and most of all disarming mash-up that makes my work recognizable and relatable.

 

Since 2025, I have been part of broedplaats Het Verbond at Frascati, where I continue to expand my research, happily troll around, and explore new ways of making. At the moment, I have immersed myself in the world of Butoh and am exploring how to gradually shift from text-driven work toward a deeper physical language rooted in movement. Alongside this physical research, I am also working on some songs! Cuz it makes me happy.

 

i’m always up for a bit of fun and new collaborations, and i love lending my acting and performing skills to cool film and theatre projects. so, hit me up!

                

 

                                                                                                               - xoxo

 

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pic by Marleen Ettema
 

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