
#6 BEYOND – Inside the Mind of Adolf Wölfli: Opening Night on 17 November at the Foce Theatre in Lugano
The Markus Zohner Arts Company is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new theatre production on the life and artistic legacy of Swiss artist Adolf Wölfli.
Good morning, Crazy!
We missed you too! It's only been two months of silence, but it felt like an eternity. Did you have a happy, bright, and relaxing summer? Are you ready for a warm, creative, and calorie-rich winter?
We've been working hard behind the scenes amidst thoughts, writing, recordings, and rehearsals, and we're delighted to present our new creation: BEYOND – Inside the Mind of Adolf Wölfli, an intimate theatre performance about the Swiss artist. This show marks the first step in a broader project, a multidisciplinary exploration into the most fragile part of the human being: the psyche.
We're working on several books, including TOTENTANZ – The Quarantine, documenting the eponymous improvised writing project created during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. More details will follow in the upcoming letters; for now, we must return to the rehearsal room.
See you in two weeks time at the Foce theatre – grab your tickets now. They'll sell out fast!
BEYOND – Inside the Mind of Adolf Wölfli
Opening Night on 17 November at the Foce Theatre in Lugano
The Markus Zohner Arts Company is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new theatre production on the life and artistic legacy of Swiss artist Adolf Wölfli.
The performance provides an intimate look into Wölfli’s inner world, bringing to life the story of a man broken by the hardships of a youth as a Verdingbub, a contract child, following his life story from childhood struggles to the creation of his enormous body of artworks, writings, and musical compositions.


BEYOND – Inside the Mind of Adolf Wölfli depicts Wölfli’s difficult upbringing as an orphan, an indentured child and a farm labourer, his struggles, his missteps and his later institutionalization at the Waldau Clinic psychiatric hospital in Bern.
Viewers gain insight into how Wölfli channelled his traumatic experiences into a massive creative output during his 35 years at the hospital, including over 1,500 drawings and collages, 25,000 pages of literary works and musical compositions.
Actors Luca Massaroli and Baptiste Vurlod bring sensitivity and emotional depth to their portrayals of Wölfli’s psychological struggles and artistic awakening. The new theatre piece by the Markus Zohner Arts Company provides a poignant look at Wölfli’s unique inner vision and creative genius. The production will highlight the difficulties and triumphs of Wölfli’s unique inner life.

It is recommended to book tickets in advance. Due to the intimate nature of the performance, the number of seats is limited.
The language of the performances in Lugano will be Italian. The English version of the play will go on tour from 2024 on.
You can purchase tickets now on biglietteria.ch.

Two-weekend intensive creative writing course 2024: between memory and imagination
with Patrizia Barbuiani and Markus Zohner
The Markus Zohner Arts Company, in collaboration with the Associazione artistica PETRUSKA and the City of Lugano, is pleased to launch a new Intensive Creative Writing Course with Patrizia Barbuiani and Markus Zohner.
The new workshop will take place over two consecutive weekends: Saturday 20 / Sunday 21 and Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January 2024.
In a total of 24 45-minute lessons, the two teachers through practical exercises and theoretical lessons will guide participants through the main elements of creative writing.


Markus Zohner Arts Company
MARKUS ZOHNER ARTS COMPANY DEVISES AND STAGES WORLD-CLASS THEATRE FOR ALL AUDIENCES.
We write, create, and produce theatre performances, cultural events, radio shows, podcasts, books, and creative writing courses to share unforgettable stories with people in our community, nationally, and worldwide. We perform on stages all over the world, at schools, on the big screen, or virtually. Furthermore, we strive to be as inclusive and diverse as possible.
Our artistic starting point is an interest and curiosity directed towards theatrical forms based on… (read on)


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