Erlend Samnøen studied Dance at the Norwegian Academy of Arts in Oslo. His directoral credits include Narnia – the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Mio min Mio, The bitter tears of Petra Von Kant (Trøndelag Teater, Trondheim), Dido and Aeneas (Den Ny Opera, Esbjerg) Agnes Cecilia (Nationaltheatret) Lucia di Lammermoor, Dove è amore è gelosia (Operaen i Kristiansund), Carmen (Ringsakeroperaen), A Midsummer night´s dream, The Tempest (Haugesund Teater) The Never Ending Story (Hålogaland Teater) Dracula (Brageteatret), Melancholia II, Death in Venice, Draumkvedet (Ymist Touring Company)
Samnøen has three times been given Work grant from the Norwegian Government Grants for Artists.