Samuel Harjanne
“Samuel Harjanne must be the most wanted musical theatre director of Finland at the moment.”
— Rolf Bamberg, Demokraatti
In the early face 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), / 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.
“My aim is to tell stories that matter – create an unforgettable experience of true emotions, enterntaining spectacle and professional quality.”
— Samuel Harjanne
“Samuel Harjanne has directed one hit after another to Tampere in recent years. After Billy Elliot and Matilda one could expect that in Anastasia one gets to cry, laugh and fall in love. And yes indeed: the musical theatre guru of our country delivers much more than that.”
“I can honestly say Come From Away is the most tight-paced musical theatre production I have seen in my life - and I saw my very first musical in the 60´s.”