I Was A German is an autobiographical journey by writer and performer Clare Fraenkel, exploring her quest to reclaim her grandfather’s lost citizenship. Through innovative visuals, original music and storytelling, this poignant piece intertwines her grandfather’s escape from Nazi Germany with her own search for roots, highlighting striking parallels with today’s anti-immigration climate. ZOO Southside (Studio) from 1st – 24th August at 13:50. Tickets are available here.
Thank you for chatting with A Young(ish) Perspective! Introduce us to who you are and what your doing at the Edinburgh Fringe this year?
Hi! I’m Clare and I’m an actor and puppeteer. I’ve performed at the Fringe a couple of times with other shows, and both were fantastic experiences – but this is my first time bringing my own writing. In fact ‘I Was A German’ is my first full length play!
It all came about after I did what so many have done since Brexit, and investigated whether I could get an EU passport… turned out I could get a German one.
But I felt conflicted, as the reason I could get it was because my grandparents were Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany, and I didn’t know how they’d feel about me ‘becoming German’.
I had always known there was a big family story about how my grandad – Heinrich Fraenkel- evaded the Nazi secret police. But what I hadn’t known was that he’d published a book telling his story! This wasn’t totally random – he was a writer and journalist– but this is the only thing he published that was so personal.
I was astonished when I sat down and read it, as it wasn’t the story I’d imagined. Everything from his experience of becoming a refugee overnight, through being interned by the British government and exploring his complex feelings about Germany felt like nothing I’d ever heard before. So I really wanted to give voice to his story, and ended up developing a play which interweaves our two storylines, 90 years apart.
A Youngish Perspective platforms accessible arts and champions the huge scope of different perspectives – can you tell us about the show you’re taking to Edinburgh Festival Fringe as if you’re flyering to both a young first-time-Fringe goer and a festival veteran returning every year?
I Was A German has been made with Fringe in mind, so it’s a zippy engaging 60 minutes! I’d describe it as a playful, multimedia telling of a pretty epic story – even though it explores a historical time, we’ve been very playful in our use of modern tools to tell it, from projection to breaking the fourth wall. I never wanted this to feel like a period piece – although we’re very inspired by the brilliant creative world of late 20s and early 30s Berlin, this is a show rooted in the present day.
To be honest, neither a newbie or a veteran wants to see something old-fashioned or hard work – that’s not what Fringe is about!
A major reason for telling this story is because it feels so relevant right now – much of my grandfather’s experiences could (and to some extent, are almost certainly) happening to someone else in the world right now. So it’s a fresh and personal take on a period of history that feels more resonant than ever – at a moment when the Far Right is gaining strength around the world.
Given that this piece is very close to you and tells your family’s story, is there a sense of pride and honour related to the portrayal of that story?
Yes absolutely. I say during the show that my grandfather always felt ‘famous’ to me growing up, as I knew his story of escaping Nazi Germany so well – even though he died when I was very young. It felt weird to me that his story wasn’t actually well known – it’s just so epic, I really wanted to tell it on a wider scale.
I also think there can be a tendency, when telling stories from this era, to convey Jewish people’s stories in a slightly passive way, and maybe tell the story about them, rather than from their own perspective or sharing their sense of agency. So I feel there’s something important in telling my grandfather’s story – using his words as much as possible – to share the viewpoint of a person determined to hold onto as much agency as he can, as he tries to forge a path of his own making. I would actually like to fit some of my granny’s story in too – she didn’t write a book (!) but I have come across letters – so if I can ever make a slightly longer version in future, she’ll get more of a voice too!
I’ve also tried to tell it in a way that reflects my granddad as a person. The visual world we’ve created – using shadows and projection – is inspired by the recurring theme of Cinema: from working as a movie journalist to going out to the cinema on his last night in Berlin. And the musical world is influenced by the Berlin which he adored and the Nazis hated: in fact, I was quite surprised by his verdict on the post-War political Cabaret. Which might have been famous before the War, but was even more “witty… and altogether brilliant” afterwards!
It’s all part of telling the story in a way that feels like it honours his memory as a person, whilst translating a real life story into something fully theatrical.
I’ve also been told by my Dad that he would have absolutely loved having a show about him, and being centre of attention in this way, so that’s lovely for me to know. It feels like I’m sharing his story in a way he would’ve approved of.
You have said that one of the primary themes of this piece is hope, what do you want the audience to leave with that they did not have before?
I feel like history – and politics, especially, these days – can feel very black and white. I learned so much from reading my grandfather’s writing and researching the show – largely that the assumptions I made about how he would’ve viewed the world – and why he gave up his German citizenship – were entirely wrong. I was really struck by his perspective: endlessly keen to ask questions of people, understand others’ points of view, and a massive believer in tolerance. In fact he said he felt he’d learned a lot about tolerance from the British.
His optimism and curiosity are woven throughout the show, and there’s a lot of hope and joy in the humanity he sees everywhere, in the face of a very dehumanising time. So I’d like the audience to come away feeling inspired to keep asking questions, to feel open to try and understand other people who have different perspectives, because I think that way can lead to hope and discovery and optimism and surprise.
Who would your surprise dream audience member be?
Hmm I don’t know if I can name a name – as honestly there are too many – but any of those political figures who use their platform for anti-migrant rhetoric. Someone who falls into dehumanising language around refugees and doesn’t seem interested in trying to see other perspectives or hearing other points of view. I’d love for them to accidentally stumble into the show and then have an honest chat with them afterwards. I’d like to think it might help shift their perspective. Even a bit. To be honest, the thought of someone like that watching this show has been a big motivator for writing it!