Nila Dutton

Nila Dutton is a queer, award-winning multidisciplinary artist from the fog and rain of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, working in theatre design and textile crafts.

Nila’s approach to their work is centred around the process and discovery in making, with a particular focus on textiles.  Their hands-on relationship to materials and their manipulation to give old objects new life drives their practice, while also making it unique.

Having discovered their passion for theatre long ago, Nila has worked in props, set and costumes since high school, giving them a wide range of experience necessary for the work as a designer, where communication, problem-solving, and flexibility are essential. Their time at the National Theatre School has refined their skills, allowing them to gain even further insight into techniques in drawing, sculpting, painting and the textile arts.

Nila graduates from NTS in 2026, having designed props for Revolt. She said. Revolt again. directed by Rose Plotek, sets for My Name is Lucy Barton and The Fever directed by Emma Welham and Azal Dosanjh, respectively, and costumes for The Neverending Story directed by Jovanni Sy. Their  final show at the school is No Jumping, written by Jojo O’Neil, where they are the costume designer.