In The Haus: Jens Radda

Jens Radda’s path to the stage started with a flair for performance and a love for show-stopping icons like Cher. From a quirky childhood competition to busking at the Caloundra markets, Jens has always embraced creativity and entertainment. Their professional journey began at WAAPA, where they discovered a passion for creating original work. Now, as they step into the spotlight for Coastal Theatre Collective’s ‘We Will Rock You’, Jens brings a larger-than-life personality and undeniable talent to the stage.

In this special In The Haus feature, Theatre Haus chats with Jens about their career highlights, creative influences, and the exciting production of ‘We Will Rock You’ at The Station in Birtinya. With a solo show, ‘Skank Sinatra’, making waves internationally and a busy year ahead, Jens opens up about their passion for live performance and dreams for the future.

We’d love to know more about the beginning of your career – where and how did you get your start?

I went straight from school to WAAPA (The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) at 18, where I studied for a BA in Music Theatre. In the second year of the course, we were required to write a 10-minute solo cabaret piece and perform it in a showcase. I created and performed a comedic political parody that received a fantastic response from both my fellow students and teachers. Inspired by this, I decided to expand it into a one-hour show and registered for the Perth Fringe World Festival in 2016. This was my first time performing a piece I had written and produced for a paying audience, and I absolutely loved it. I performed the same show the following year after graduating, which set me on a path of not just performing original work but also writing and producing.

If I think back to the very first performance that truly set me on the road to a life of pursuing lights, it would be when I was a wee lass of 12 years old. I entered the “Search For A Mooloolaba Star” competition in 2007, singing to backing tracks wearing khaki shorts and Hawaiian floral shirts. For the final round, I decided to wear a wig and my mum’s sequin dress to perform Cher’s “Strong Enough.” I won the competition and from that moment it was full steam ahead and my family was incredibly supportive.

I spent every weekend after that busking at the Caloundra markets on Bullcock Street, which is when I learned you can actually be remunerated for doing what you love.

What or who were some of your early influences or inspirations that shaped your career?

I used to watch Cher’s concerts on repeat, especially her Farewell Tour concert. It influenced a lot of my drag style and taste and probably played a part in making me gay.

What are some of the most defining moments or milestones in your career so far?

One of the most significant milestones has been the recent success of my solo show, ‘Skank Sinatra’, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was an incredible achievement, with sold-out performances and an amazing audience response. The Edinburgh Fringe is the most competitive arts market in the world, with thousands of artists participating each year, so being recognised and well-received by the global arts community was a huge milestone for me.

Additionally, some of my TV work has given me a broader platform. I had a small role in the ABC TV show ‘All My Friends Are Racist’, and I played the character Memphis in Seasons 2 and 3 of ‘Single, Out’.

What is a quirky fact about you, or something people wouldn’t expect about your story?

I grew up in a trilingual household, speaking Danish with my mother and Afrikaans with my father, and I only learned English when I started school. Before that, my parents could have private conversations in English in front of my sister and me because we didn’t understand it. This multicultural upbringing has greatly influenced my work, and I love singing in these languages. I try to incorporate them into my shows whenever I get the chance. Performing in Edinburgh this year was particularly special because, for the first time, I had regular audiences who could actually understand the Danish parts of my show—there aren’t many Danes in Australia!

What are you currently working on and how has that creative process been?

I’m currently developing a show with my partner, Lachie Bartlett (AKA Iva Rosebud), and our friend, Meg Hickey. The show is called ‘Madame’s Martha’s’, and it’s a spellbinding theatrical production featuring music, dance, and storytelling, set against the backdrop of a vaudeville club. We’re scheduled to perform it in Melbourne in October, with hopes of touring it in 2025 – Sunshine Coast watch this space!

What’s in your rehearsal bag that you can’t go without?

Calmness and gratitude — if that counts! Theatre and the arts can be quite chaotic at times, and since our physical bodies are involved in creating the work, it can often stir emotions and create a high-intensity environment. So, I always try to come to rehearsals without carrying any baggage from the day and remind myself how fortunate I am to be making art for a living. Oh, and lots of coffee, in case I get too calm!

The book ‘Sapiens’ by Yuval Noah Harari profoundly changed my perspective on life, humanity, and the world. It put into perspective many of the things we humans consider important, and in a way, it freed me from the shackles of constructed beliefs and expectations.

The philosophy of Stoicism has also been instrumental in helping me become a clear, unbiased thinker. It has taught me to view my emotions objectively and not let them control my life. My dad introduced this to me. As artists, we can often be highly emotional, so learning emotional regulation has been invaluable.

What advice would you give to a young person today aspiring to walk in your shoes?

Nurture your inner child. If you’re ever at a crossroads or unsure about a decision, ask your younger self what they would do. You can often rediscover your true nature from what you loved as a child, before the world’s expectations and the self-consciousness of teenage years set in. For instance, I had to watch old family videos of myself dressing up in wigs and dresses to remind my adult self that there’s an androgynous queen inside me—something I lost touch with during my teenage and early adult years. Dressing up in wigs and costumes was something I had always done at home; I would often film myself singing Cher or ABBA songs, fully dressed up from the age of eight. Your inner child always knows.

What are your future aspirations or projects that you’re excited about?

I’m excited to take my solo show, ‘Skank Sinatra’, on a world tour. I’ve already received interest from theatres in Wales, Sweden, and the UK for a 2025 tour, which is incredibly exciting.

A dream of mine would be to sell out an evening with Jens Radda and a live orchestra at the Concert Hall at QPAC.

Theatre Haus is the ‘home of theatre’, where, what or who do you call home?

I live in Melbourne for most of the year, but the Sunshine Coast is where I truly call home. My whole family lives there now, especially since my sister Mia moved back from Sydney. I’m hoping to spend half the year there and half in Melbourne. And, of course, half the year touring internationally (I’ve never been great at math!). If there were enough arts work on the Sunshine Coast to sustain a full-time career, I would definitely be based there. Who knows? Maybe one day there will be!

Don’t miss the chance to see Jens in action as Killer Queen in the rock-fuelled production, ‘We Will Rock You’ at The Station, Birtinya, from Friday, 4 October until Sunday, 6 October 2024. Grab your tickets at this link!

Alternatively, follow Jens on Instagram or see their solo show, ‘Skank Sinatra’ at The Lind Theatre in Nambour from 12-13 December 2024.

Want to feature in our In The Haus series? Email [email protected].