Theatre, music, and the sea have anchored an Espoo native in Uusikaupunki

This year marks exactly forty years since Annikka Hallikainen and her spouse Kyösti moved to Uusikaupunki. Annikka, who studied to become a teacher in Turku, had already become accustomed to Southwest Finland, so the transition to the coastal town didn’t feel like a big leap for the couple, especially since the city was located by the sea.

We had a sailing boat back then, and it was easy to continue sailing here,” she says. With their sailboat, the family has traveled during summers from Uusikaupunki to Denmark, Sweden, and even Amsterdam. The Archipelago Sea and the Åland Islands also attract boaters repeatedly. “You never get tired of those sceneries,” she says, eagerly awaiting the upcoming sailing season.

The couple built their current home in Pyhämaa fifteen years ago when their children had left for the world. Before that, they lived in the city center in an old wooden house, where schools, children’s hobbies, and friends were nearby, and distances were easily covered by walking or biking.

Their three sons are now adults and live in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Annikka says they still enjoy spending their leisure time in Uusikaupunki. “I guess they come to visit us, but surely this place also has an influence. Here, surrounded by nature, by the sea, there’s a unique peace.

Annikka retired from teaching three years ago, freeing up more time for her passion for acting. The city boasts an active theater scene, known for its vibrant productions and musicals.

Last year, she received a call from the theater director Jari Luolamaa: “Would you like to join us in playing?” he asked, and Annikka answered affirmatively without hesitation. At that moment, she didn’t yet know she was slated for the lead role in Molière’s classic comedy “Luulosairas” (The Imaginary Invalid).

The theater community refers to acting as playing, which Annikka finds fitting. According to her, the best part of theater is the opportunity to immerse oneself in different worlds. Collaborating creates a great atmosphere.

People of different ages, backgrounds, and professions are involved in theater, she says, emphasizing the welcoming atmosphere for newcomers.

The atmosphere is really encouraging, and you don’t have to fear mistakes.

The performances attract audiences from all over the region. The play “Luulosairas,” which premiered in January, has received an excellent reception.

Viewers have praised the performance as an entertaining comedy. Absolutely fantastic performances. Annikka Hallikainen’s leading role as Argan and everyone else shone in their roles, the theater’s Facebook page raves.

The interaction between the audience and the actors is always unique. When the audience bursts into laughter, it’s like adding fuel to the fire, and the pace on stage only intensifies, according to Annikka.

As a child and young adult in Espoo, Annikka was always eagerly involved in school plays, but as an adult, she hesitated to join amateur groups. Then she decided to gather her courage. Annikka’s first production was the musical “Sound of Music” in 2008, where she sang in the nun choir.

Well-executed musicals have also been magnets for audiences in recent years.

We’ve had many new contributors join, and sometimes I wonder where they’ve been hiding,

As a child and young adult in Espoo, Annikka was always eagerly involved in school plays, but as an adult, she hesitated to join amateur groups. Then she decided to gather her courage. Annikka’s first production was the musical “Sound of Music” in 2008, where she sang in the nun choir.

Well-executed musicals have also been magnets for audiences in recent years.

We’ve had many new contributors join, and sometimes I wonder where they’ve been hiding,

Annikka praises the city’s lively cultural scene. The stage at the Cultural Center Crusell, which serves as the theater’s home venue, hosts many guest performances and concerts by internationally renowned artists.

In July, the Hallikainen’s sailboat stays firmly in the home harbor during the Crusell Music Festival. The festival is one of the highlights of Uusikaupunki’s summer, transforming the city into an oasis of classical music for a week. During this time, the Hallikainens welcome friends to their home who are impressed by the artistically high-quality and international event.

Annikka herself has revived her interest in music and brought out her violin from the closet.

I played the violin more actively as a child, but then it faded away. Now I’m part of the Andante orchestra. The age range there is wide, from schoolchildren to retirees.

Both Annikka and Kyösti enjoy swimming throughout the year, and that’s one reason why their current home is so dear to them.

Swimming isn’t just a hobby for us; you could rather call it a way of life. Every morning, we go to the sea, summer and winter, without a sauna – it’s our morning shower.

Living in the countryside is a great joy for Annikka at this stage of her life. She doesn’t mind if someone describes their place as a backwater because the unhurried pace of life and the opportunity to pause and observe natural phenomena are precisely the reasons why they chose their new home’s location.

During the summer, Annikka sometimes rides her electric bike to the city center or to the Pyhämaa village shop. She has experienced wonderful moments biking home in nature on summer evenings as darkness falls.

For her, luxuries include silence, the starry sky, the sea, nearby mushroom and berry picking grounds, and occasionally, the aurora borealis glowing in the sky.