UKA I Ås in the 1920s: 

The former Student Society and the beginning of the tradition

UKA i Ås came into existence in 1924 with great success. However, we can trace the festival's origins back to the 1890s; the students in the Elevforeningen ('The Student Society in Ås’ today) at the Higher Agricultural School in Aas would raise money by performing humorous plays, written by Danish and Norwegian authors, in the dining hall. In the Economics Building, the group, which at the time consisted only of men, performed in front of both teachers and students, all of whom lived on campus at the time. This became an annual tradition that continued until the school transitioned to the “Norwegian Agricultural College” in 1897. As the 20th century progressed, the revue evolved into a larger event and a more self-written, Ås-themed performance, where students began contributing their own material!

In 1916, the Sports Club at the Agricultural College organized a market where they raffled off valuable prizes, such as flour and plows, and a restaurant was started in collaboration with the Student Association – here too, the revue was the main attraction! In 1924, the revue "På tå hev" was performed in the Festsalen in Ur, with all material being self-produced at the school. “Me and Thorvald and Johannes” was also performed here for the first time, and this is where Thorvald and the National Anthem truly became ingrained in the Ås spirit. In other words, when we celebrate UKA in Ås' 100th anniversary this year, it is primarily the revue that we are celebrating!

In 1929, UKA i Ås made its return, and with it came two different productions! The first revue was held in the spring, titled “Slyng på linja.” The revue largely consisted of songs accompanied by live music from the student jazz band “Big Bambus Brothers,” and the song lyrics, as well as the music, were among the revue's greatest strengths. The same revue group returned in the fall with the production “Troll i eske,” though here, the Rector censored the wordplay in "the four rump-trolls," where the male students were dressed in ballerina skirts. Already during the first decade of UKA i Ås, the events were characterized by a festive atmosphere, and the revue included social harmony, current issues, the everyday life of students at the Agrarian Metropolis, as well as exam stress and anxiety over alcohol in the 1920s!