
Magda Willi (*1978, Zurich, Switzerland) studied Theatre Design at Central St Martins College of Art and Design, London. In 2004, Magda moved to Berlin, where she has been based ever since. 2004 – 2008, Magda worked at the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, initially as assistant, and from 2005 as a designer. Since 2008, Magda has been working as a freelance designer in theatres across Germany, in the UK, France, Austria and Switzerland.
In 2013, Magda joined Shermin Langhoff and Jens Hillje’s creative team taking over the Maxim Gorki Theater, Berlin, where she acted as head of set design until 2017. In 2014, Magda designed The Young Vic Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Benedict Andrews, which, after it’s London run, transferred to St Ann’s Warehouse, New York, where it was presented in April/May 2016.
Further London shows include The Young Vic’s production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, directed by Benedict Andrews at the Apollo Theatre, and Jesus Hopped The A Train, directed by Kate Hewitt at The Young Vic Theatre.
Awards: In June 2015, Magda was among the winners of the Swiss Design Awards for her design work. Her shows Verrücktes Blut, directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Don Carlos, directed by Roger Vontobel, and Common Ground, directed by Yael Ronen, were invited to the Berliner Theatertreffen.
Since Magda started working as a designer in 2005, she has met and worked with a number of directors including Thomas Ostermeier, Kate Hewitt, Marius von Mayenburg, John Fulljames, Egill Palsson, Hakan Savas Mican, Ayham Majid Agha, Ingo Berk, Maximilian von Mayenburg and the theatre collective Turbo Pascal, amongst others.
A close working relationship has evolved with directors Benedict Andrews, Yael Ronen, Sebastian Nübling, and Nurkan Erpulat.
2022
Cosí fan tutte
directed by Benedict Andrews, Bayerische Staatsoper Munich; set design
Operation Mindfuck
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design
Rigoletto
directed by David Bösch, Göteborgsoperan Gothenburg; set design
2021
Streulicht
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design
Michael Kohlhaas
directed by Simon McBurney & Annabel Arden, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz Berlin; set design
2020
Death Positive
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design
Und sicher ist mit mir die Welt verschwunden
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design
Maria
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design
2019
De Befriede
directed by Egill Pálsson, Østerbro Teater Copenhagen; set design
Lehman Brothers
directed by Peter Langdal, Østerbro Teater Copenhagen; set design
Jesus Hopped The A Train
directed by Kate Hewitt, The Young Vic Theatre, set design
Status Quo
directed by Marius von Mayenburg, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz; set design
2018
Ausser Sich
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Yes But No
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Die Letzten
directed by András Dömötör, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Germania
directed by John Fulljames, Opéra Lyon; set design;
A Walk On The Dark Side
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
2017
Nach uns das All
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Skelett eines Elefanten in der Wüste
directed by Ayham Majid Agha, Studio YA at Gorki Theater Berlin; co-set design with Shahrzad Rahmani;
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
directed by Benedict Andrews, a Young Vic Production at the Apollo Theatre London; set design;
Get Deutsch or Die Tryin‘
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Winterreise
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
2016
Denial
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Meteoriten
directed by Hakan Savas Mican, Gorki Theater; set design;
2015
In unserem Namen
directed by Sebastian Nübling & Lars Wittershagen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Und dann kam Mirna
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Schnee
directed by Hakan Savas Mican, Gorki Theater Berlin; set co-design with Cleo Niemeyer;
2014
Entertaining Mr Sloane
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Erotic Crisis
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; Bühne;
A Streetcar Named Desire
directed by Benedict Andrews, Young Vic Theatre London, 2014; also presented at St Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn, NYC, 2016; set design;
Common Ground
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Kein schöner Land
directed by Ruud Gielens, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
2013
Es sagt mir nichts, das sogenannte Draussen
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Der Russe ist einer, der Birken liebt
directed by Yael Ronen, Gorki Theater Berlin; set design;
Der Kirschgarten
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Gorki Theater Berlin; Bühne;
American Lulu
directed by John Fulljames, a co-production of The Opera Group and the Young Vic Theatre London, International Festival Edinburgh and Festspielhaus Bregenz; set and costumes;
Notizen aus der Kueche
directed by Patrick Wengenroth, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costumes;
Kasimir und Karoline
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf; set design;
2012
Das Tapfere Schneiderlein
directed by Max von Mayenburg, Staatsoper Berlin Studiobühne; set design;
Richard III
directed by Roger Vontobel, Schauspielhaus Bochum; set design;
Kinder der Sonne
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Volkstheater Wien; Bühne;
Der Zerbrochne Krug
directed by Roger Vontobel, Staatschauspiel Dresden; set design;
Käthchen von Heilbronn
directed by Ingo Berk, Hans Otto Theater Potsdam; set and costumes;
2011
The Day before the Last Day
directed by Yael Ronen, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
Der Ring des Nibelungen for children
directed by Max von Mayenburg, Studiobühne der Bayreuther Festspiele; set design;
Das Schloss
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Deutsches Theater Berlin/Ruhrtriennale; set design;
Hexenjagd
directed by Ingo Berk, Hans Otto Theater Potsdam; set and costume design;
Zwei
devised by Turbo Pascal, Hebbel am Ufer Berlin; set and costumes;
2010
Aufzeichnungen aus dem Kellerloch
directed by Egill Palsson, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
Punk Rock
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Junges Theater Basel; set and costume design;
Verruecktes Blut
directed by Nurkan Erpulat, Ruhrtriennale/Ballhaus Naunynstrasse Berlin, invited to Theatertreffen 2011; set and costume design;
Onkel Wanja
directed by Ingo Berk, Schauspielhaus Graz; set and costume design;
Don Carlos
directed by Roger Vontobel, Staatsschauspiel Dresden, invited to Theatertreffen 2011; set design;
Gerettet
directed by Benedict Andrews, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
2009
Fräulein Julie
directed by Ingo Berk, Hans Otto Theater Potsdam; set and costume design;
Ich bin nicht wirklich die Gefahr
devised by Turbo Pascal, Sophiensääle Berlin; set and costume design;
Dear Wendy
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Theater Basel/Junges Theater Basel; set design;
Endstation Sehnsucht
directed by Benedict Andrews, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
Kritische Masse
directed by Sebastian Nübling, Schauspielhaus Hamburg; set and costume design;
2008
Wir werden wieder wer gewesen sein
devised by Turbo Pascal, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
Der Hund, die Nacht und das Messer
directed by Benedict Andrews, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
Die Stadt/Der Schnitt
directed by Thomas Ostermeier, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set co-design with Jan Pappelbaum;
2007
Betrunken genug zu sagen ich liebe dich?
directed by Benedict Andrews, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
Tommy
directed by Benedikt Haubrich, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
Stoning Mary
directed by Benedict Andrews, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz; set and costume design;
Der Hässliche
directed by Benedict Andrews, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set design;
2006
Kebab
directed by Enrico Stolzenburg, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set design;
Liebe ist nur eine Möglichkeit
directed by Thomas Ostermeier, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set co-design with Jan Pappelbaum;
Augusta
directed by Rafael Sanchez, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz; set co-design with Jan Pappelbaum;
Augenlicht
directed by Ingo Berk, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set co-design with Jan Pappelbaum;
Tanzmarathon, project of Die Zwiefachen
directed by Uta Plate, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;
2005
Blackbird
directed by Benedict Andrews, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; costume design; set co-design with Jan Pappelbaum;
Distanz
directed by Enrico Stolzenburg, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; costumes; set co-design with Jan Pappelbaum;
Gang a Bong Get it On, project by Die Zwiefachen
directed by Uta Plate, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin; set and costume design;