Leyla is an award winning spoken word artist and theatre maker based in Glasgow. Her collection Hopeless was released in January 2018 to accompany her solo show of the same name.
Leyla has just finished touring her 5* show ‘Hopeless’ which was runner up for The Saboteur Best Spoken Word Show 2018. It was also nominated for The Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, The Brighton Fringe New Voice, it was shortlisted for The Prague Fringe Performance Award.
Leyla’s work has featured all over the place. Huffington Post, The Guardian, BBC Radio 4 to name a few.
She is also the UK National Poetry Slam ChampionShe has been featured on Huffington Post, Upworthy, Buzzfeed, The Guardian, BBC The Social, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland and STV.
in 2014, she won The UK National Poetry Slam held at The Royal Albert Hall by Hammer and Tongue. She has also won the Loud Poets’ Grand Slam 2017, she was a finalist for The Roundhouse Slam and she came second in The Scottish Poetry Slam 2018.
Leyla is currently working on her five star show Daddy Drag to Summerhall during the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe to sold out crowds.
Reckless
i can be so reckless with life
there are so many things to be in awe of
i try and soak it all in but end up weathered and worn
sadness taps gently at the window
until i give up
and let it in again
we are all grieving
loves lost
and life’s
tough
i’ve never felt good enough
Hope
Every moment ends
and the next begins,
within that crack
shines possibility.
We have the ability
to shift to something else.
Hope picks up the pieces
even when there is nothing left
but dust.
Hope is the trust
of the waves
coming to the shore
time and time again,
knowing that with every touch
the landscape changes
and mountains
are made.