`The Free Singer’ Play shines a light through words and music on the family stories of Phil Freisinger, the son of an Oxford holocaust survivor.Phil’s father and uncle fled from Vienna to the UK on the `Kindertransport. Eight of his family were murdered but his Grandfather `Erno` had a miraculous escape and his Great Aunt `Erzsi` survived Auschwitz!
It deals with deep issues around Phil`s family. His father, who later became the Trade Union Leader, Bobby Fryer, at the car works, came to Oxford as a 13 year old with his younger brother, Laci on The `Kindertransport` after fleeing his native Vienna. The alternative was the death camps.
8 family members were murdered by the Nazis . Phil`s Great Aunt, Erzsi (Hungarian for Liz) survived Auschwitz to tell the family the many tales.
Phil`s Grandfather, Erno Freisinger also survived.He was a prisoner digging trenches in Czechoslovakia when after a year the German Soldiers he had made friends with told him to leave and catch the last train out of Prague!
An act of human kindness against all the odds.
From `darkness to light` is the theme of the play – a theme that is as relevant in these times as it was in our past.
`The `Free Singer ` has been performed to THREE sold out shows in Oxford in Sept 23,March 24 and Jan 25 and at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3rd-13th August 2024. We have also performed the play in German in Cologne on 28th and 31st January 25 as part of the City`s commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on the 28th and 31st of January 2025.`
The play is co-written by Peter Cann and is performed by Phil and his partner, Sue Smith. It is directed by Joe Swarbrick with technical support from Ella Fryer Smith.