Johanna Benrath (she/her) is a German theater director based in Zurich. She studied Art History, Literature, and Theater Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, as well as Directing at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). From 2024 to 2026, she is completing an Executive Master in Arts Administration (EMAA) at the University of Zurich. In 2019, she co-founded the network "wildi blaatere" alongside other ZHdK theater graduates. Since the 2025/26 season, she has held the co-artistic leadership of the Junges Schauspielhaus together with Elo Göldi and Lea Niedermann.
Johanna Benrath works in municipal and state theaters as well as within the independent scene. She creates productions for children, teenagers, and adults, catering to both seasoned theatergoers and audiences with no prior experience. In addition to her directing work, she has served as a guest lecturer in the practice-oriented directing department at the Zurich University of the Arts since the 2023 autumn semester.
In her work, she explores modern myths, societal narrative patterns, and the construction of characters. She develops playful pieces characterized by a strong interest in collective processes and artistic exchange, placing the human being and their capacity for agency at the center of the discourse.
In 2026, she directed DIE STAUBSAUGER SCHLAFEN IM SCHRANK at the Schauspielhaus Zürich. In the 2026/2027 season, she continues her directorial work there with WER HAT ANGST VOR EMILIA GALOTTI?
