Urs Schönebaum

After completing his apprenticeship in photography in Munich, Urs Schönebaum worked with Max Keller as part of the lighting department of Munich Kammerspiele. In 1998, he became assistant stage director for productions at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Lincoln Center, and the Munich Kammerspiele. In 2000, he took up work as a lighting designer for opera, theater, dance, art installations, and performances. Schönebaum has worked on more than 200 productions at major theaters with stage directors including Pierre Audi, Claus Guth, Laurent Pelly, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Damien Jalet, Sasha Waltz, Thomas Ostermeier, La Fura dels Baus, and Michael Haneke, and he was a long-time collaborator of Robert Wilson. Along with his work with William Kentridge, he has designed lighting for art projects with Vanessa Beecroft, Anselm Kiefer, Dan Graham, Taryn Simon, Soundwalk Collective, and Marina Abramović. Since 2012, Schönebaum has also worked as a set designer and stage director. He designed and directed the operas JETZT (Now), What Next?, and Happy Happy for the Opéra National de Montpellier. He directed and designed the second act of the Walküre Project at the Stuttgart Opera. His set and lighting designs include Bomarzo at Teatro Real, aus LICHT at the Holland Festival, L’Apocalypse Arabe at the Festival d’Aix en Provence, Linzer Klangwolke 22, Bastarda at the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie, and La Regenta at Matadero Madrid.