Liyanne Marie Manning

Head of Casting and EP at Onset Octopus Liyanne Marie is a pioneering force in the UK’s evolving Vertical Drama space, working at the intersection of casting, creative leadership, and production and Head of Casting at Onset Octopus, the first UK Vertical Drama production company, she is also a Freelance Casting Director internationally recognised for shaping talent across film, television, theatre, commercial advertising, and vertical drama storytelling. Vision-led and instinctively inclusive, Liyanne is the first casting director in the UK to actively lead and define the Vertical Drama space, raising standards of performance, craft, and credibility within this fast-growing format. Her work has helped bridge traditional screen excellence with emerging audience behaviours, positioning Vertical Drama as a serious, scalable storytelling form. With a vision rooted in innovation and commercial awareness, Liyanne works closely with producers, clients, studios, and platforms to shape talent s