UKErevyen
Encyclopedia
UKErevyen is the traditional revue shown during the biannual cultural festival UKA
in Trondheim
, Norway
.
, in order to supply the students' society with enough money to run for another two years. During the years, both the revue and its subsequent festival has grown continuously.
in Trondheim (Samfundet) was in a financial crisis. As a last resort, the students made a revue on their own; the revenue were to assure the future of Samfundet. The boss of Samfundet's own theatre got a script from the student theatre in Oslo
, and managed to talk the others into trying to make money on it, despite the fact that the earlier shows they had put on had just worsened the financial situation. Less than a month later, the first UKErevy (revue of UKA) premiered. The show lasted for a week (a "week" in Norwegian is "uke", hence the name UKA
, "the week") and was a huge success. After a couple of years the money was spent, the urge and need was back, and thus a tradition began: Every second year a show would be put on to assure Samfundet's future. However, from now on, they would write the material themselves.
The first UKA revues were never really finished before opening, and it wasn't before the 1933 NÆMESiS that the audience could experience a large-scale, thoroughly worked-with revue. From now on the UKErevy became a more professional revue.
During the 1930s the revues were coloured by the social and political disturbances in Europe. The 1939 revue Tempora criticized largely the rearmament and racial discrimination seen on the continent. The revue's poster, where a threatening giant lizard arises behind partying students, proved an omen of what to come.
The line of festivals was itself affected by World War II
, as the nazis
took over the community's house and thus in 1941 and 1943 there was no revue shown. However, the 2005 revue Origo
tells the story of a show indeed being written and rehearsed in 1943, on the authority of Norwegian
Nazi
sympathizer Vidkun Quisling
, in order to turn the citizens of Trondheim
to the nazi's side. However, the show was sabotaged by a Norwegian rebel
, not unlike the sabotage at Rjukan
during the war. Quisling discovered the day before the premiere that his revue made fun of the nazis instead of portray them well, and in rage
he demanded the revue cancelled. Origo
further on tells that the script, film reels and costumes was found below Samfundet during a renovation in 2005, and so a reconstruction of the sabotaged never-existing play Quiss-e-ling could be shown in the 2005 revue, to acclaim
the until-now unknown war hero.
Already in 1945, UKErevyen was back with Go-a-head, an optimistic show that looked forward, telling the viewers not to let blame and hatred reign. 1947's Fandango, however, had already discovered the Cold war
, and in a time where most Norwegians
focused on rebuilding the country, the revue warned about the technological society and uncritical use of science.
Themes brought up over the years include communism, worshipping one's own reflection, technology hype, and more recently, the new generation of people who has everything they want and still want more, and coping with the world's numerous demands to you as an individual, when you perhaps should listen more to yourself.
Since the beginning, the revue has grown largely in both terms of the number of people involved and revenue. As mentioned; over the years a full-blown festival
blossomed up around the revue. Its primary goal is still to keep the students' community
running, and 2003 was in fact the first year in the history of UKA and UKErevyen that Samfundet made enough money on its own to be able to survive without UKA. The festival and its heart, the revue, is regardlessly continuing to prosper, and "the week" now ironically lasts over three weeks. During the 24 days the festival lasts, the revue is shown 30 times, selling somewhere around 25.000 tickets.
and the revue has many tradition
s. Some evolve over time, likewise some fade out and are forgotten as new students arrive to arrange new festivals. Thus, it's just as hard to determine how old the current traditions are, as it is to try to find out what traditions are lost. One set of traditions concern the name of UKErevyen, which also becomes the name of the entire festival.
Songwise, there must be a song about or related to drinking
and one that revolves around the city in which the revue is played, Trondheim
. A tradition that used to be, is that there should be a song about being a student
. This tradition is, to some extent, awoken again in 2005.
When it comes to the sketches
, few traditions remain. There is said to be a "rule" that at least one of the skits have to include some kind of animal.
UKA
UKA is the largest cultural festival in Norway and is arrangedevery other year entirely by volunteer students from Trondheim. In 2007, 1394 students did volunteer work, while 78,000 event tickets were sold....
in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Overview
The revue UKErevyen has been made by students every second year since the beginning in 1917, except during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in order to supply the students' society with enough money to run for another two years. During the years, both the revue and its subsequent festival has grown continuously.
In detail
Back in 1917, the newly founded students' communityStudentersamfundet i Trondhjem
The Student Society in Trondheim is Norway's largest student society.Besides housing two cafés and frequently hosting concerts and other activities , it is an independent organization for all students and teachers in Trondheim, owned fully by its members...
in Trondheim (Samfundet) was in a financial crisis. As a last resort, the students made a revue on their own; the revenue were to assure the future of Samfundet. The boss of Samfundet's own theatre got a script from the student theatre in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and managed to talk the others into trying to make money on it, despite the fact that the earlier shows they had put on had just worsened the financial situation. Less than a month later, the first UKErevy (revue of UKA) premiered. The show lasted for a week (a "week" in Norwegian is "uke", hence the name UKA
UKA
UKA is the largest cultural festival in Norway and is arrangedevery other year entirely by volunteer students from Trondheim. In 2007, 1394 students did volunteer work, while 78,000 event tickets were sold....
, "the week") and was a huge success. After a couple of years the money was spent, the urge and need was back, and thus a tradition began: Every second year a show would be put on to assure Samfundet's future. However, from now on, they would write the material themselves.
The first UKA revues were never really finished before opening, and it wasn't before the 1933 NÆMESiS that the audience could experience a large-scale, thoroughly worked-with revue. From now on the UKErevy became a more professional revue.
During the 1930s the revues were coloured by the social and political disturbances in Europe. The 1939 revue Tempora criticized largely the rearmament and racial discrimination seen on the continent. The revue's poster, where a threatening giant lizard arises behind partying students, proved an omen of what to come.
The line of festivals was itself affected by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as the nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
took over the community's house and thus in 1941 and 1943 there was no revue shown. However, the 2005 revue Origo
Origo
In pragmatics, the origo is the reference point on which deictic relationships are based. In most deictic systems, the origo identifies with the current speaker . For instance, if the speaker, John, were to say "This is now my fish", then John would be the origo, and the deictic word "my" would be...
tells the story of a show indeed being written and rehearsed in 1943, on the authority of Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
sympathizer Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
, in order to turn the citizens of Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
to the nazi's side. However, the show was sabotaged by a Norwegian rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
, not unlike the sabotage at Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
during the war. Quisling discovered the day before the premiere that his revue made fun of the nazis instead of portray them well, and in rage
Rage (emotion)
Rage is a feeling of intense anger. It is associated with the Fight-or-flight response and oftentimes activated in response to an external cue, such as the murder of a loved one. The phrase, 'thrown into a fit of rage,' expresses the immediate nature of rage that occurs before deliberation. If left...
he demanded the revue cancelled. Origo
Origo
In pragmatics, the origo is the reference point on which deictic relationships are based. In most deictic systems, the origo identifies with the current speaker . For instance, if the speaker, John, were to say "This is now my fish", then John would be the origo, and the deictic word "my" would be...
further on tells that the script, film reels and costumes was found below Samfundet during a renovation in 2005, and so a reconstruction of the sabotaged never-existing play Quiss-e-ling could be shown in the 2005 revue, to acclaim
Praise
Praise is the act of making positive statements about a person, object or idea, either in public or privately. Praise is typically, but not exclusively, earned relative to achievement and accomplishment...
the until-now unknown war hero.
Already in 1945, UKErevyen was back with Go-a-head, an optimistic show that looked forward, telling the viewers not to let blame and hatred reign. 1947's Fandango, however, had already discovered the Cold war
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, and in a time where most Norwegians
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
focused on rebuilding the country, the revue warned about the technological society and uncritical use of science.
Themes brought up over the years include communism, worshipping one's own reflection, technology hype, and more recently, the new generation of people who has everything they want and still want more, and coping with the world's numerous demands to you as an individual, when you perhaps should listen more to yourself.
Since the beginning, the revue has grown largely in both terms of the number of people involved and revenue. As mentioned; over the years a full-blown festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
blossomed up around the revue. Its primary goal is still to keep the students' community
Studentersamfundet i Trondhjem
The Student Society in Trondheim is Norway's largest student society.Besides housing two cafés and frequently hosting concerts and other activities , it is an independent organization for all students and teachers in Trondheim, owned fully by its members...
running, and 2003 was in fact the first year in the history of UKA and UKErevyen that Samfundet made enough money on its own to be able to survive without UKA. The festival and its heart, the revue, is regardlessly continuing to prosper, and "the week" now ironically lasts over three weeks. During the 24 days the festival lasts, the revue is shown 30 times, selling somewhere around 25.000 tickets.
Traditions
Both UKAUKA
UKA is the largest cultural festival in Norway and is arrangedevery other year entirely by volunteer students from Trondheim. In 2007, 1394 students did volunteer work, while 78,000 event tickets were sold....
and the revue has many tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
s. Some evolve over time, likewise some fade out and are forgotten as new students arrive to arrange new festivals. Thus, it's just as hard to determine how old the current traditions are, as it is to try to find out what traditions are lost. One set of traditions concern the name of UKErevyen, which also becomes the name of the entire festival.
The content
A few traditions follow the revue itself as well.Songwise, there must be a song about or related to drinking
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
and one that revolves around the city in which the revue is played, Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. A tradition that used to be, is that there should be a song about being a student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
. This tradition is, to some extent, awoken again in 2005.
When it comes to the sketches
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
, few traditions remain. There is said to be a "rule" that at least one of the skits have to include some kind of animal.