GET TO KNOW THE ENSEMBLE:

Benjamin Vagnhammar Sundström

musical theatre artist

Lovely Benjamin is well educated and has attended both the Higher Musical Education at Kulturama, the Musical Line at the Ballet Academy in Stockholm, the Musical Line at Örebro Cultural School and Scenic Design at Karolinska Gymnasium.

Benjamin is an experienced musical theatre performer when it comes to family shows, as in addition to Djojj, he has toured with both ”Babblarna Andra Musikalen - Bibbel Babbel Bubbel” and ”Arne Alligator & Djungeltrumman”. Perhaps you have also seen him shine at Maxim in Stockholm, in the role of the lovable donkey in ”Shrek - The Musical”. In addition to all the family shows, he has played the roles of Kemmerich & Leer in the play ”På Västfronten Intet Nytt” at Länsteatern on Gotland and the main role Jeremy in the musical ”Be More Chill” at Theatre Bristol & Moritz in the musical ”Spring Awakening”. As if that wasn't enough, he has also been The Joker at Bianca Ingrosso's New Year's party!

When you don't find Benjamin on a set, you'll find him searching and collecting all sorts of film memorabilia, as one of his big dreams is to turn part of his future home into a small film museum!

Benjamin is in his third year as Djojj and at Parken Zoo.

 

Emma Berggren

musical theatre artist

Emma was born and raised in Kiruna, but then went to Växjö to study acting at Katedralskolan. Then it was off to Bjärnum and the Music Theatre School and then on to the Musical Artist Education in Stockholm where she graduated in 2019. She has also played Yvette in ”Noice Rockmusikalen” and been a singer in a 50s and 60s show on tour in Sweden. Emma has also been a dancer in both Talang, Sommarkrysset and Allsång på Skansen. Most recently, you have seen her on a 9-month tour with ”Babblarna & Tjingeling-affären” around Sweden.

As well as standing on her head and being a whiz at both gymnastics and acrobatics, Emma also knows how to use AAC (Signs as a support). She also enjoys music, exercise and skincare.

Emma is performing in the musicals with Djojj for the third year in a row at Parken Zoo.

MARTIN Mossberg

Olivia Grönros Aleman

musical theatre artist

In addition to her role as a ringmaster in the hit musical Handbook for Superheroes, Olivia also understudied for the lead role of the Red Mask. And what could be more fitting to have many balls in the air when she previously pursued a career as a tennis pro? Olivia graduated from the Ballet Academy in Gothenburg in spring 2024. Before starting her training in Gothenburg, she attended the prestigious folk high school in Bjärnum, where many of Sweden's great musical theatre stars have started their careers.

During her studies, Olivia has played the lead roles in the musicals The Witches of Eastwick and The Secret of the Silver Heart. Outside of school, she has worked at the Nordic region's largest amusement park, Liseberg. Here she got to hang out with Gothenburg's biggest celebrity, the Liseberg Rabbit. And on the theme of children, she has also dubbed several series on Barnkanalen and SVT. This summer, she will participate for the first time in Djojj's musicals and in the autumn she will go on tour with Jul & Kul med Babblarna.

Mr Jakob Wallgård

musical theatre artist

Jakob Wallgård is the Täby guy who started his path as a musical artist already at Tibble upper secondary school with a musical focus. He then continued with 3-year studies at Stockholm's Musical Artist Education, where he graduated in 2021.

Since then, Jakob has had time for several major roles. He has played Danny Zuko and Kenickie in the musical Grease at Kristianstad Theatre, as well as portrayed Robert ”Robban” Klasén in the rock musical NOICE, at both Cirkus in Stockholm and Slagthuset in Malmö.

Audiences have also seen Jakob in musicals such as Rent, The Wedding Singer, Musical Comedy and Fame. He has also appeared as a dancer in TV4's Sommarkrysset. In addition to musical theatre, he is also a fantastic guitarist - and a great skateboarder!

This is Jakob's first summer as Djojj the Bumblebee at Parken Zoo and in the autumn he will continue his tour of Sweden with Djojj saves the flower meadow.

Mr Emil Söder

Choreographer & Assistant Director

Emil has previously choreographed the musicals ”The Wizard of Oz” and ”Annie” at Intiman in Stockholm, Falkenberg Revue, Park Lane Show in Gothenburg, for Sunwing, the children's musicals ”Emil i Lönneberga” and ”Pippi celebrates Christmas” and the Gothia Cup opening at Ullevi.
He has also been assistant director and choreographer to My in the musical ”Handbook for Superheroes” and choreographed all the musicals with Djojj at Parken Zoo for the past three years.

But long before that, Emil started his dancing life in Sveg in Härjedalen by dancing folk dance for 12 years and also won the Children's Vasalopp when he was in 3rd grade! He then attended the Music Theatre School in Bjärnum and after that the Performing Arts School in Gothenburg, graduating in 2008.

As a musical theatre artist, Emil has acted in many stage productions, including Rooster Hannigan in ”Annie”, Franz in ”Sound of Music”, Alfred in ”Emil i Lönneberga”, Lill-Klippen in ”Ronja Rövardotter” and as the Chimney Sweep in ”Madicken”. Emil has also worked as a dancer in several productions, including ”Lotta på Liseberg”, ”Schwarzwaldmädel” and ”Die Fledermaus” and has also taught dance at most schools around Gothenburg.

My Blomqvist Olsberg

Director, producer & script editing

This multi-faceted, energetic and creative woman works as a producer, director, writer, composer and performer and recently spoke at TEDx about her unique experiences entertaining children. She is best known for her sell-out ”rock concerts for two-year-olds”, the swinging musicals with Babblarna that have played more than 1000 performances. She has also directed, written and produced the hit musical Handbook for Superheroes.

As a musical theatre artist, My has appeared in shows such as Nils Karlsson Pyssling, toured Sweden as Pippi in Little Musical about Pippi Longstocking and acted as Findus in When Findus was small and disappeared.

In addition, there are several music albums with self-composed music for children on the merit list. Perhaps you recognise the characters Ajja & Bajja and Olle & Mia?

My has directed and produced ”Djojj turns one”, ”Djojj plays circus” and ”Djojj saves the flower meadow”, all performed at Parken Zoo and is also very much looking forward to Djojj's first flying tour this autumn!

Staffan Götestam

Author, writer 

Staffan is behind the character Djojj the bumblebee. He has written and read the stories about Djojj that are immensely popular on Spotify.

Staffan has worked as a director, screenwriter and producer throughout his professional life. He began his career as an actor in the film The Brothers Lionheart, where he played the older brother Jonathan. Astrid Lindgren entrusted Staffan with adapting several of her books into films, musicals and theatre plays. He has dramatised and directed Pippi Longstocking with Siw Malmkvist, Pernilla Wahlgren and Ola Forssmed, Karlsson on the Roof with Markoolio and Benjamin Ingrosso, Ronja the Robber's Daughter with Malin Berghagen and many more.

Staffan is one of the founders and owners of Junibacken and The Viking museum on Djurgården in Stockholm. He has won the theatre award Guldmasken 3 times and in 2020 he was awarded Malmö Profile of the Year for his work with the Funnys Äventyr cultural centre in Malmö.

JOSEFINE GÖTESTAM

Composer

Josefine's voice puts thousands of children to sleep every night, as she sings Djojj's lullabies, which she writes with Adam Portnoff. She has been recognised by STIM as one of Sweden's fastest growing songwriters. Josefine is the COO of House of Stories, which she runs together with her family, who are behind the bumblebee Djojj and other concepts for families with children. In addition, Josefine works as a songwriter and music creator for several musical projects and for other artists. Sometimes she also does voices in cartoons and films, a side job she has had since the age of 10.

Adam PortnofF

Composer

Say thank you to musical genius Adam Portnoff who will put your children to sleep to Bumblebee Djojj's awesome tunes! Adam has been singing since childhood, but didn't get serious about music until he put his football career on hold.

Adam attended Rytmus music high school and was a singer in Hilda's Guitar, which had countless gigs around Sweden. In addition to working as a music producer, Adam dubs various children's programmes and films, including the voice of Fnatte in Ducktales and Cat Noir in Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir.

He has also had a short but sweet solo career, but realised that he thrives best in the background, focusing on creation. As well as producing the music for Djojj the Bumblebee, he also does the voice of Djojj himself.

Adam, together with Josefine Götestam, has been awarded the +100 (one of Sweden's fastest growing songwriters) and we can expect great things in the future from these stars. Keep an eye out!

Adam is also a married seaside city dweller and the world's best dad to two stubbornly amazing kids.

Anita Stray

Puppet makers, costumes and props

In the town of Kolsva in Västmanland we find the designer Anita Stray, who today creates children's clothing and accessories for children at the company Wilma & Morris.

Working with Anita is a pleasure. She is always solution orientated, cheerful, accommodating and makes life easy for everyone who works with her.

In show and theatre, she has, among other things, made costumes and puppets for all Babblarnas productions as well as costumes for the musical Handbok för Superhjältar. She has also made costumes for Björns Skifs show at the Stock Exchange, Lasse Berghagen's show at Prinsen and for various artists in the schlager festival. Anita has also had the great honour of creating mascots. This was for Parken Zoo's Wilma & Morris but also for Skara Sommarland, Ving, the World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg and for several shopping centres in Sweden and Norway.

Mr Håkan Sanchis

Stage designer

Håkan started his career 29 years ago in the studios of SVT and worked there for 12 years as a construction manager. During this time he was involved in the production of many films, but he particularly enjoyed working on the Christmas calendars. Among Håkan's favourites are Pelle Swanslös, Tjuvarnas jul, Allrams Höjdarpaket and Kaspar i Nudådalen.

For the past 17 years, Håkan has been a freelancer and has created several exhibitions at Junibacken, such as Pippi Longstocking, Ture Sventon, Barbro Lindgren, Moomin and recently Emil 60 years. In addition, Håkan has been responsible for the scenography in Allsång på Skansen, the Epiphany Concerts from Berwaldhallen and the Babblarnas musicals. He has also worked on Ingmar Bergman's last film Saraband, all the Beck films, the international blockbuster The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Swedish Millennium films.

”Håkan says that what he draws, he builds”, and he thinks that the most fun projects are those aimed at children with a lot of imagination.