The Viipuri City Theatre, as other companies with permanent houses, required a substantial corps of actors so personas of varying ages and qualities could complement each other. The best, such as Arvo Lehesmaa and Tuovi Hirvisuo, were multi-talented wizards. A sense of wit was a requisite for comedies; singing and dancing skills were for operettas (Arvi Tikkala, Tuire Orri). The theatre was responsible for historical costumes, but as was the custom elsewhere in the country, contemporary costumes, including men’s evening dress and tuxedos, fell to the actors to acquire. Part of the actors’ success lay in acquiring the right outfit from the city’s shops, or making it one’s self or with a seamstress’ assistance. Thure Bahne appeared in the newspaper advertisements for a tailor, perhaps to pay off debts. The drawing room plays required manners, dancing skills, and the ability to handle a train, or a sleeppi, without having a dancing partner or the wearer trip over it. If an actor from Viipuri moved, it was generally to Helsinki. Elsa Turakainen moved first to Tampere in 1934 and then to the capital; Arvi Tuomi and his family moved directly to Helsinki a little before World War II.