“So those new details, they’ve filtered into my updated script. Does that count as absorbing a lesson? My script has absorbed some new facts.”
WHO: Clare Fraenkel
WHAT: “Berlin, 1933. Heinz goes out to the cinema and never comes home. London, 2023. Clare claims the German citizenship her grandad Heinz gave up, but is it hers to take? In the shadow of Brexit, Clare shines a light on her grandfather’s extraordinary true story, taking a journey from the cabaret scene of 1930s Berlin to becoming an ‘enemy alien’ in 1940s Britain, getting arrested by everyone from the Soviets to Winston Churchill along the way. A vivid account of one Jewish refugee trying to find his way home, and his granddaughter searching for her roots.”
WHERE: Studio at ZOO Southside (Venue 82)
WHEN: 13:50 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
First time with my own show! But third time as a performer, and I’ve also been a bunch of times as a punter – in fact I seem to have lost count on exactly how many times overall. Don’t make me do the maths! I actually did a cheeky research trip way back in 2019, when I started to have a notion that I had a show I’d like to write – I had an absolute blast soaking up as many one-person shows as I could. That’s one of the great things about the Fringe – you can watch a wild variety of things, or you can pick your niche and still see a wild variety within that. I mean every show I saw that year was massively different in so many ways – the only constant was the number of performers (One!). And last time I was at the Fringe – in 2023 in Out of The Forest’s Brief Life and Mysterious Death of Boris III -it was, for me, the most buzzing and energetic year yet. I’m excited to see what 2025 brings!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Hmm, have I learned anything since 2024? Great question. I do like learning new things. A couple of years ago I did some adult ‘improvers’ swimming lessons and got my 200m swimming and they gave me an actual badge to sew on my swimming costume! Because I GUESS adults like swimming badges too? But who has the nerve to sew it on? Do you reckon I should??
Anyway, as far as learning anything since 2024? No new badges, but I’ve done a bunch of research and learned loads of new details about my grandads’ story – including fascinating stuff from people who’ve heard about the show and reached out to me with information I didn’t know about. So those new details, they’ve filtered into my updated script. Does that count as absorbing a lesson? My script has absorbed some new facts.
Tell us about your show.
I Was a German has been a labour of love for several years, from a scratch at JW3 in London via a 45 min work in progress at CPT’s Sprint Festival and then we had a fab short run at VAULT in 2023.
It all came about after I applied for a German passport after Brexit, but then had a dilemma because my grandparents were Jewish refugees and my right to the passport was because of the Nazis taking their citizenship. They died when I was a child so I couldn’t ask them – but THEN I discovered my grandad wrote a book all about his escape from Nazi Germany, specifically to explain why he never claimed his citizenship back. When I read it – Farewell to Germany – it felt like nothing I’d heard before, and I had even more questions.
I found his story fascinating, and as an actor of many years I had a huge urge to explore this dilemma by taking our two narratives and twisting them into a play. I wanted to use a variety of media to tell the story – as it felt important to make my grandfather’s storyline feel urgent and alive, and I very fortunately I received ACE funding to get a fabulous team together. The team has included members of Shadowboxer Theatre – specialists in shadow puppetry and projections (and includes IWAG director Lowri James) and composer Arran Glass who created a beautiful soundtrack and songs. As a solo artist, that funding was essential – the show simply would never have existed without it, as I needed to be able to assemble a crack team to create the work I had in my head! It was bigger than anything I could just whack on a stage.
Now I’ve polished up the script with some added details and looking forward enormously to a full Edinburgh debut, and then … who knows? I’ve been delighted by how this story seems to really connect with audiences, so I’d love to tour the show – I’d be fascinated to take it around the UK, and also think it has scope to connect with international audiences. Berlin is definitely on my wishlist, I think performing this show in my grandad’s hometown would be magical.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Ok Out Of The Forest’s Bury The Hatchet is going to be spectacular, the team is so talented, I’m really excited by what they’ve got in store for all of us. While All Fired Up: an 80’s Mixtape Musical had me at ‘80’s mixtape’. I’m there. Also.. I’d love to see Fish in a Dress’ The City for Incurable Women – when medical misogyny is so absurd, it’s funny. Sadly their show is at the same time as I Was A German– so see us both on different days!
Of my fellow ZOO shows several have caught my eye – I thought Onterond Goed’s ‘Funeral’ in 2023 was very moving, and I’d love to catch their latest Thanks For Being Here which is also on at Zoo Southside, except it’s ALSO the same time as me. So come over to Zoo Southside on different days to see us both! Also The Legends of Them – Here & Now Showcase looks well worth catching, as does The Queen is Mad – all female centred story telling, which I am very keen to support. A Drag is Born looks rather marvellous too – clowning and drag, two of my weaknesses.
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