Magician Lionel

Magician by passion

The magician Lionel has long been an established part of the Swiss cultural scene. His shows, in which he skillfully combines magic tricks and comedy, regularly fill theaters all over the country. The 42-year-old is also a successful international performer and a welcome guest on TV shows and at numerous events, including in the USA, France, Germany and Spain.

Lionel performs throughout Switzerland and abroad in numerous shows for private parties, and has already developed several stage programmes. His last theatre show "Deine Wahrheit" wa a great success: after 80 performances, the tour ended in June 2024 with a final performance in Bern.

His latest German-language programme has been on show in Swiss theatres since November 2024: ‘Mensch magisch’ started with several sold-out performances in Bern. In French-speaking Switzerland, Lionel has been performing "Rien que la vérité" since autumn 2023, and with great success: so far, all performances have been sold out. The tour will continue in late autumn 2024.

The magician also hosts the TV-Show "Tête-à-Tête" on the Swiss TV channel Kanal9 and is a regular guest on various programmes on Swiss radio and television SRF. He has also appeared on TV in other European countries, for example on the Spanish version of "Got Talent" in Spain where his performance (2019) was rewarded with four yeses and a standing ovation from the audience.

The Swiss magician has already been honoured with several prestigious awards for his work: in 2021, he was the first Swiss ever to win the "Fool Us Trophy" in Las Vegas. The prize is considered the Oscar of magicians. Lionel managed to amaze the two hosts of the Penn & Teller show with his milk carton trick. The two American magic experts simply couldn't explain how he managed to serve different drinks from one and the same carton one after the other. And then to tear it apart in front of everyone - to prove that it was not faked. The whole world marvelled at this unique effect, which Lionel has developed himself over the last few years. In 2021, Lionel was also named "Valaisan of the Year". Two further awards from his home canton followed in 2024: the Promotion Prize from the Department of Culture and the Rünzi Prize. The prize from the "Divisionär F.K. Rünzi" foundation, endowed with CHF 20,000, is awarded to individuals who have rendered outstanding services to the canton of Valais.

Lionel launched his magical career with a training as a movement actor at the Mime School Ilg in Zurich and the Ecole Internationale de Mimodrame de Marcel Marceau in Paris, the artist professionalized his skills auto-didactically. During his studies in business administration "Master of International Business Development", the young magician performed on weekends at different events to fund his studies.

Since his beginnings, he has continued his education. In 2015, he studied at the University of the Arts in Stockholm together with 25 magicians from all over Europe. He is proud to be the first artist in Switzerland with a university diploma in magic.

Lionel grew up in Brig-Glis, a small town in the Swiss mountains and now lives with his family in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.