Written by Clare Fraenkel
Directed by Lowri James
Review by Dominic Corr
Someone has finally found the sole-benefit of Brexit: Clare Fraenkel’s I Was German, a deeply personal and historically rich piece, is born out of Fraenkel’s journey to reclaim German citizenship following Brexit. As a piece of theatre, it unfortunately struggles to translate its compelling concept into resonant theatre. Fraenkel, both writer and performer, draws from her grandfather Heinrich “Heinz” Fraenkel’s extraordinary life—his escape from Nazi Germany, internment in Britain, and post-war reflections—interwoven with her own journey. It’s a fascinating dual narrative, but one that often feels more like an after-school lecture than a fully realised performance.
The show’s structure leans heavily on exposition, with Fraenkel recounting events in a tone that, while earnest, lacks theatrical dynamism. The emotional stakes are clear, yet the delivery remains too static to fully engage. There’s a sense that the material is being presented rather than embodied, which limits its impact. The cabaret-inspired framing is only lightly touched upon, and the pacing suffers as a result.
That said, the production’s use of shadows, projections, and props is smart and evocative. Scenes from 1930s Berlin are rendered with flickering silhouettes and cinematic flair, offering glimpses of the theatrical potential within the concept. These moments—particularly Heinz’s narrow escape from the secret police—are visually arresting and hint at a more immersive experience.
Fraenkel’s decision to juxtapose her present-day reflections with her grandfather’s story is thematically rich, and the questions she raises about identity, inheritance, and historical memory are timely and important. But the execution lacks the texture and dramatic variation needed to make these ideas truly land. The show feels like it’s reaching for resonance, but never quite finds it.
Still, I Was German deserves credit for its ambition and its thoughtful engagement with a lesser-known chapter of Britishness and European history, with the British POW encampments. The use of multimedia elements and the clever integration of props redeem what is ultimately a solid idea hampered by uneven delivery. With further development and a stronger emphasis on performance, this could become a powerful piece of theatre. As it stands, I Was German is an intelligent and sincere work that falls short of its potential.
Intellegent and Sincere
I Was a German runs at ZOO Southside
Running time – Sixty minutes without interval
Review by Dominic Corr – contact@corrblimey.uk
Editor for Corr Blimey, and a freelance critic for Scottish publications, Dominic has been writing freelance for several established and respected publications such as BBC Radio Scotland, The Skinny, Edinburgh Festival Magazine, The Reviews Hub, In Their Own League The Wee Review and Edinburgh Guide. As of 2023, he is a member of the Critic’s Award for Theatre Scotland (CATS) and a member of the UK Film Critics.
