Markus Zohner

Markus Zohner is a Swiss theatre director, actor, writer and podcaster, founder of the Markus Zohner Arts Company. Since 1987 he has toured worldwide with acclaimed productions, from Siberia to Pakistan, from Brazil to Greece, and creates radio, stage and public projects that cross boundaries of language and culture. His work is presented at leading international festivals and theatres, known for combining storytelling, research and a deep sense of the human condition.

Over the last decade he has increasingly worked at the intersection of arts and science. In collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) he has developed large-scale projects such as Terramara: Oil, Identity & Data Soundscapes and Naturarchy — dialogues between scientists, artists and the public about the future of technology, ecology and society. His current podcast series Borderlines extends this exploration, bringing writers, scientists and artists together in conversations on democracy, identity and emerging technologies.

Today his work focuses on artificial intelligence, democracy and global governance.

Markus continues to lead the Markus Zohner Arts Company and the non-profit Associazione artistica PETRUSKA in Lugano, while working internationally as researcher, writer and speaker at the intersection of art, science and technology.

Originally from Munich, Markus lives in Lugano, home of his theatre company, the Markus Zohner Arts Company, with which he has been touring internationally for over 30 years.

On 16 December 2008 he set off from Venice to walk to St Petersburg: nine months, twelve countries, over 4,000 kilometres on foot. From the journey came a book and photographic exhibitions.

Markus leads the annual creative writing workshop and is a writing coach.