Samuel Harjanne

In the early phase of his directing career, Mr. Harjanne started directing musical theatre for youth theatre companies, and in 2008 he made his professional directing debut with Altar Boyz in Helsinki, starring one of the biggest pop-stars in Finland - Antti Tuisku.

His other directorial credits include The Wedding Singer (2010), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2011), Disney's Aladdin – bilingual version (2012), Hevisaurus ja Velhojenvuoren salaisuus (2013), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! (2014, 2016), and Stiles & Drewe's The Three Little Pigs (2014), Loserville (2015), and Don’t Run – A New Musical (2015). Spring Awakening (2017), and Les Misérables (2017). Kinky Boots (2018), Billy Elliot (2018) and Disney's The Little Mermaid (2019), Maailma On Tehty Meitä Varten (2020), a transfer of Kinky Boots (2020), Groundhog Day (2020) and Sister Act (2020). In 2021 Samuel opened Spring Awakening, in Sweden, and at Tampereen Työväen Teatteri, Finland, Roald Dahl's Matilda and Come From Away.

Mr. Harjanne is educated in Sibelius Academy (BA Music Education) and GSA - Guildford School of Acting (MA Creative Practices & Direction). He has been taught by some of the best musical theatre professionals in the world, e.g. David Brunetti (USA), Anne-Marie Speed (UK), Julian Woolford (UK), Michael Moor (UK) and Terrie Fender (UK). His work is strongly influenced by the theories of Keith Johnstone (UK) and improvisation has had a huge impact on his career.