Warda Abbasi is a Designer and Maker

Warda is a freelance Set & Costume designer for theatre and live performance. She has designed a nationally touring Christmas show, small studio shows and assisted designers on large scale productions & site-specific projects. She has experience as a freelance prop maker, including set dressing and model-making.

Of her own initiative Warda self-taught many of the necessary skills for design and model making. She gained further experience as the Resident Designer at Leeds Playhouse & tutti frutti productions and as an alumni of a film talent development programme from Creative Access & Guy Ritchie.

​She most recently completed filming on BBC Three’s Man Like Mobeen as an Art Department Trainee. She continues her personal development through prop making and set decorating as she aspires to become a Production Designer.

​Bradford Based - able to relocate as required.
email: wardasabbasi@gmail.com
instagram: @ws_abbasi
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE - full CV available upon request

The WOW Barn - Leeds 2023 Barn Raising Supervisor
May 2023 | Head of Production: Carys Tavener | Cinder Moor, Leeds

Crime and Punishment - Leeds Conservatoire Costume & Props Support
Jan 2023 | Dir: Debs Newbold | Designer: Helen Coyston | Chapel FM, Leeds

Jack Frost & the Search for Winter - tutti frutti productions Set & Costume Designer
Jan 2022 - Dec 2022 | Dir: Eleanor Manners | UK Tour & Christmas Run at The Crucible, Sheffield

​Man Like Mobeen Season 4 - Tiger Aspect Art Department Trainee
Oct 2022 - Nov 2022 | Dir: Akaash Meeda | Production Designer: Martin Boddison   

Twelfth Night and Macbeth - Leeds Conservatoire Assistant Designer
Aug 2022 - Oct 2022 | Dir: Alex Ferris and Gitika Buttoo | Designer: Helen Coyston | Leeds Playhouse 

Cashy C’s the Musical - Rosie Freeman Design Intern 
Jul 2022 - Sep 2022 | Dir: Kirsty Taylor | Designer: Naomi Freeman | Fulton’s Foods, Bradford

Various Shows - Leeds Playhouse Freelance Props Support 
Jul 2022 - Sep 2022 | Head of Scenic Construction: Andy Wood | Leeds Playhouse

Maggie May PhotoBooth - Leeds Playhouse Photo-Booth Designer
Feb 2022 - May 2022 | Designer: Francis O’Connor | Leeds Playhouse 

I Wanna Be Yours - Leeds Playhouse Set & Costume Designer
Nov 2021 - May 2022 | Dir: Sameena Hussain | Leeds Playhouse & City-Wide Tour

Leeds Young Film Festival: Secret Silver Screen Society - tutti frutti productions Set & Costume Designer
Jan 2022 - Apr 2022 | Dir: Wendy Harris | Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds Library, Leeds City Museum & Leeds Arts Gallery

Macbeth - Leeds Playhouse Assistant Designer 
Oct 2021 - Mar 2022 | Dir: Amy Leach | Designer: Hayley Grindle | Leeds Playhouse 

Wendy & Peter Pan - Leeds Playhouse Props Support 
Oct 2021 - Nov 2021 | Head of Scenic Construction: Andy Wood | Leeds Playhouse 

Princess & the Pea - tutti frutti productions Assistant Designer
Jul 2021 - Oct 2021 | Dir: Wendy Harris | Designer: Catherine Chapman | UK Tour

Promise of a Garden - Leeds Playhouse Props Support 
Aug 2021 | Head of Scenic Construction: Andy Wood | Leeds Playhouse 

East is East & Cas is Cas - Leeds Playhouse Set & Costume Designer
May 2021 - Jul 2021 | Dir: Alex Ferris | School’s Tour, Wakefield 

So Much - tutti frutti productions Set Designer
May 2021 - Jun 2021 | Dir: Dermot Daly | Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds

Set Access: A UK Film Talent Development Programme
Nov 2020 - May 2021 | Delivered by: Creative Access & Guy Ritchie | Designer: Alice Andrews

Sweet Dreams - tutti frutti productions Assistant Designer
Oct 2019 - May 2020 | Dir: Wendy Harris | Designer: Catherine Chapman | postponed due to Covid


TEACHING & WORKSHOPS
  • tutti frutti Club - tutti frutti productions Jul 2022 | Shine, Leeds
  • Off the Curriculum - Common Wealth Jun 2022 | Common Space, Bradford
  • Introduction to Set Design - Leeds Playhouse Nov 2021 | Leeds Playhouse
  • Reasons to be Hopeful - Leeds Playhouse Feb 2021 - May 2021 | Online with Exhibition at LP
  • Digital Stories - tutti frutti productions Feb 2021 - Jul 2021 | Online

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ACHIEVEMENTS, ACADEMIC HISTORY & TRAINING
  • Awarded a Bursary for career progression and development - ScreenSkills Mar 2023
  • Risk Awareness Safety Training - Fist Option Safety Consultants Oct 2022
  • e-Learning Modules: Coronavirus on Production Training | Work Well Series | Mental Health Awareness | Unconscious Bias | Tackling Harassment & Bullying - ScreenSkills Oct 2022
  • Awarded an International Creatives Explore Bursary - Jerwood Arts & British Council Jun 2022 
  • Set Design for Performance Online Short Course - UAL: Central Saint Martins Jul 2021
  • Resident Designer - Leeds Playhouse, tutti frutti & Weston Jerwood (development and practical experience within props, wardrobe, scenic workshop & construction) Apr 2021 - May 2022
  • Explore Animation Short Online Course - Future Learn + NFTS Jul 2020
  • BSc (Hons) Mathematics: 2.1 - Sheffield Hallam University 2012 - 2015
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INTERVIEWS
The Stage - May 2022
BBC Radio Leeds - May 2021
© 2019 - 2023 Warda Shah Abbasi. All rights reserved.