By: PETER CARLSSON
Helen Sjöholm did assuredly grow up in Sundsvall, but a lot of time during her childhood she spent with her grandmother in Näsåker and with relatives in Sollefteå.
Now she returns to childhood and sings in Sunnersta.
– It will be fun to come home to my childhood area, Helen Sjöholm says.
In December 2011 Helen Sjöholm gave birth to twins Samuel and Johanna. After that she took quite a lot of maternity leave, but a year ago she returned to the stages and performed among other places at The Skule Festival. Last autumn she even did a tour with Jojje Wadenius and right now she works with Jacke Sjödin.
– I currently commute to Uppsala to take part in a lunch revue together with Jacke Sjödin. We are playing this revue during April and it’s fun to work with Jacke, Helen Sjöholm says.
That Sjöholm works with Jacke Sjödin is not exactly a coincidence, considering the links between Näsåker and Sollefteå. Sjöholm still has good contact with her cousin Maria Lundberg, who lives in Sollefteå.
– I spent many childhood summers in Näsåker with my grandmother and I often got to go to Sollefteå to visit relatives. They were a musical family, and already then me and my cousin Maria started to sing together, along with her father Christer Sjödin, Sjöholm says and continues:
– That’s when I came in contact with Nicke Sjödin’s works for the first time. I remember when I was in the audience, watching Cabaret Kommunbränsle that Nicke had written. Maria was in it, singing. I was so jealous of her.
Sjöholm is now one of the country’s most famous singers, probably the best in the musical genre. She has done unforgettable roles in the musicals ”Kristina från Duvemåla” and ”Chess”, but also in the movie ”As it is in Heaven”. On Saturday, however, she appears on a much smaller stage – at Sunnersta People’s House outside Sollefteå.
– No place is too small for me, but of course it might be a smaller venue than I usually perform at. But it will be both cozy and fun to return to my childhood areas and perform in Sunnersta. I’ve actually been in Sunnersta before, together with Lars T. Johansson and Erling Eliasson.
The basis for the concert in Sunnersta was laid already at last year’s Skule Festival.
– I met Micke Holmsten at the Skule Festival last summer. Then he told me about his project and his support gala in Sunnersta in favor of the prostate association Blue Ribbon. I do quite a lot of support galas, and especially cancer research is close to my heart, so I was immediately interested and wanted to take part.
The concert at Sunnersta People’s House accommodates only 150 guests and the urge for tickets was big when they were released. In eight minutes the concert was sold out.
– I’m looking forward to the concert and to sing with Maria. Maria and I will do a few songs together and some separately. There will be some songs from our childhood, such as a Tomas Ledin song.
Soon there will be new challenges for Sjöholm. In May she starts work with the musical ”Life is a hit song”, directed by Jonas Gardell. In that musical Sjöholm plays one of the main characters, but also Johan Glans, Peter Jöback and Måns Möller are in the cast.
– A funny show with many famous names. It will be especially nice to once again be working with Peter Jöback, who I haven’t done very much with since ”Kristina från Duvemåla”.
Facts – Helen Sjöholm
• Born: 1970 in Sundsvall.
• Family: Husband David Granditsky. Children Ruben, Samuel and Johanna.
• Roles: ”Kristina från Duvemåla”, ”Chess”, ”Där regnbågen slutar”, ”As it is in Heaven”, ” Simon and the Oaks”, ”My Fair Lady”, ”Aniara”.
• Current: Sings at Sunnersta People’s House on Saturday evening.