Mark Leiren-Young is a screenwriter, playwright, performer, and freelance journalist. He wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning feature film The Green Chain—a documentary-style drama about a dying BC logging town. His stage plays have been produced throughout Canada and the U.S. and have also been seen in Europe and Australia. His scripts Shylock and Articles of Faith are published by Anvil Press. His satirical comedy troupe, Local Anxiety, has been featured on CBC and NPR and has played major festivals across Canada. Local Anxiety's TV special Greenpieces received an Earthvision Award for its satirical take on environmental issues.

Mark has released two CDs with Local Anxiety — Forgive Us We’re Canadian and Greenpieces, both of which are available through www.cdbaby.com and iTunes. Both feature the troupe’s hit song “I’m White, I’m Straight, I’m Sorry.”

As a journalist Mark has written for such publications as Time, Maclean's and The Utne Reader, and he has received a National Magazine Award as a columnist. He’s a regular contributor to The Georgia Straight and is a humour columnist for The Tyee, where he also hosts an environmentally-themed podcast series, The Green Chain, which is available on iTunes. Mark currently splits his time between The Sunshine Coast and Haiku. For more on Mark, visit his personal website at www.leiren-young.com.