Matilda Leyser began her training as an English Literature graduate at King's College London. Since then she has trained and worked professionally as a dancer, an Alexander Technique teacher, an aerial artist, a physical theatre performer and as a classical actor.

Over the past 8 years she has collaborated with diverse theatre, dance and circus companies, examples of which include: Mamaloucos' 'The Birds' at the National Theatre; 'Romeo and Juliet' with Volcano Theatre, 'Elemental' with Company F/Z for Chalons dans la Rue festival in France; 'The Miserly Knight' for Glyndebourne Opera directed by Annabel Arden, and 'Pericles' at Shakespeare's Globe directed by Kathryn Hunter.

For more details on her previous credits please visit her spotlight page by going to http://www.spotlight.com/ and typing in the pin no: 7115-7864-4802

Solo Work
Alongside working with other companies she also develops and produces her own work: In 2001 she received a Circus Space commission to make an aerial-theatre solo, Lifeline. In 2002 she was funded by London Arts to collaborate with Marcello Magni, of Theatre de Complicite, in Several Stories High, a research and development project to explore the fusion of aerial skills and physical theatre.

In 2003, with support from the Arts Council South-West and from The National Circus Development Project, she devised a new work-in-progress piece combining swinging aerial skills and text, toured as a part of 'Circus Bites', an evening of experimental contemporary circus work.

In 2004 her piece 'Lifeline' was selected as part of the Royal Opera House 'Firsts' season. The ROH2 and the Royal Opera House with the Helen Hamlyn Trust subsequently commissioned a second piece 'Dead Point' which was premiered in the Linbury Studio.

'Lifeline' was selected to be part of the British Council Edinburgh showcase and was performed at the prestigious Aurora Nova venue in August 05, where it was shortlisted for a Total Theatre award.

Matilda was then awarded funding by Arts Council England to create a full-length solo piece 'Line, Point, Plane' commissioned by the London International Mime festival, Royal Opera House and Pegasus Theatre. It brought together an exciting team of collaborators from the worlds of theatre, dance and circus including Annabel Arden, Annie Castledine, Bryony Lavery, Rosemary Lee and Michele Weaver.