Invoking Sinatra in your show title is always going to raise the bar. In Skank Sinatra, Jens Radda offers a solo drag cabaret that fuses sharp tailoring, sequined tights and swing classics with a globe-spanning personal story. Winner of Best Cabaret at Adelaide Fringe 2024, Radda arrives in Edinburgh with a confident reputation and a clear love of the material.
The setlist is a generous mix of both Frank and Nancy Sinatra standards, from New York, New York to Bang Bang and The Way You Look Tonight. Radda’s voice is undeniably strong – warm, smooth and expressive – though the choice of keys occasionally sits too low, meaning the real beauty of the falsetto and mid-range comes through less often than it should. When those moments do appear, however, they sparkle.
The show promises a blend of comedy, cabaret and personal storytelling, and while there are glimpses of a fascinating life journey spanning South Africa, Australia and Europe, the narrative never quite pulls together into a cohesive arc. With only an hour, some stories feel more like sketches than a throughline.
Comedy and crowd work are woven in, but don’t always land. At times Radda sings in the back rows, leaving those up-front craning to follow, and a handful of witty asides miss their mark. This isn’t to say the hour isn’t fun – it is – but the flyer’s promises of “show-stopping twists” and “explosive stage presence” perhaps set expectations a little higher than the final product delivers.
That said, there is much to enjoy. Radda looks every inch the star, carries the audience with charm and warmth, and brings real sensitivity to the softer numbers, particularly The Way You Look Tonight. The encore, though a little rehearsed, rounds things off with a wink and a flourish.
Skank Sinatra is a stylish and enjoyable cabaret with an engaging performer at its heart. While it doesn’t quite live up to its own hype, the combination of good vocals and drag charisma makes for a fun, lively hour – even if it isn’t quite the jaw-dropper suggested.
Runs until 24th August 2025.
