UKA i Ås in the 2020s:

Pandemic, revitalization and legendary conditions

UKA i Ås was arranged for the 50th time in 2020. A certain virus broke out just a week prior to miniUKA 2020, and a lot were cancelled or postponed. A celebration of 50 rounds around the fields with Covid-19 demanded to be ensured of a plan B, C and D. However, there was still hope. The UKE-revue “I full vigør” gave “life a little colour” with “actors and song in full vigour” throughout the entirety of October. This was the 50th UKErevue in Ås. It was set on the scene which also celebrated the same round number that year, Auditorium Maximum. The festival had concerts where the audience were seated with artists like Dagny and Sløtface, which was made possible by dividing Samfunnet’s party premises by three and maximum 200 people in each part. Most parts became more exclusive in some way, but the end justifies the means. The UKElåt “Alle tiders”, which was also the slogan for the UKA i Ås, was played through the whole month. Immense amount of creativity, patience and a joint wish to create light in the dark of the pandemic summarizes UKA 2020. 

2022 was a long awaited UKEyear. The UKE-organization could finally set off once again without restrictions, adorned with the appropriate slogan “Oransje revansj”. The satirical miniUKErevy “I ate too much Rice and now I am MET” was shown in the spring in which the principal at the time had to go through it, and the theme of urban and rural life became a humorous theme throughout the show. The duo Hagle cooperated with UKA in Ås in the creation of the song “Felleskjøpet-dress”, along with the music video “Bøgda” featuring Staysmann. This created both expectations and an underlying theme for UKA 2022.

However, two years of lockdown had left a mark. Many students and volunteers had never experienced miniUKA or UKA as they were supposed to be without restrictions. This overlap was interesting, but also challenging at times, and gave both worries and joyful surprises. Still, the traditions were carried on with flying colours, for instance “Ta sjansen” in Skogsdammen. As a break from the autumn darkness, they made the main themes for the UKErevue “Flipp flopp tommel opp” about summer vacation and carefree days. Astrid S, Soppgirobygget and Myra stood on the same, big scene during October. Furthermore, Mental Health week was held with a focus on looking up and daring to ask those around them about their well-being. In many ways, it was incredibly delightful that UKA i Ås finally was how it was intended to be. 

UKA 2024, the 100-year celebration of UKA i Ås, is the end of this story about the festival throughout the times. On the other hand, this is just the beginning of the adventure! Hopefully for the next 100 years new history about UKA i Ås shall be written, documented, and referenced to. It is a great ordeal that UKA has successfully passed for a whole century. It is with a mixture of awe and enthusiasm that we as students, volunteers and participants of the festival, can be the ones who will carry UKA 2024 forward. It is quite simply legendary.