_{Cover Image: Keshet, Chloë-Jean Vincent and Melissa Westlake in A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism. Image by Daniel Grant (2026).}

A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism by Asha Cornelia Cluer

Victoria Hall, Fremantle

10 Nights in Port, Saturday 22 August 2026

Growing up I knew that my grandfather had lived in Lithuania until he was 13, and in my own teens I became curious about his life in that place. When questioned, however, Grandpa was adamant.

“I don’t remember.”

Years after his death I learned why he might have blocked memories of his childhood, or chosen not to share them with me. The history of Lithuanian Jews is saturated in blood.

So when the character of Cote, in A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism, said she had no memory of fleeing the oppressive dictatorship of her home in 1970s Chile, it struck a chord for me.

Cote is one of three women whose family’s stories are interwoven in this musical, poetic piece of theatre by local playwright, director and composer Asha Cornelia Cluer. And Cote’s hidden story is one of several family secrets uncovered over the course of an intriguing plot which explores the far reaching impacts of two historical dictatorships. Set across 1970s Chile, 2000s Western Australia and Scotland today, connections between seemingly unrelated stories are cleverly and satisfyingly revealed.

As the title suggests, the play is peppered with judicious touches of the supernatural, from occasional sleight of hand to the appearance of a shimmering selkie flamboyantly costumed by Jamie Jewell, enhanced by Adelaide Harney’s kaleidoscopic lighting. Set designer Edward Daw’s large trunk functions as a portal through which characters move between past and present, life and death; his fairy-light strewn tree adding whimsy.

It’s from this portal that we meet the Magical Guide of the title, not a text but a time-traveller: a young Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis. Otherworldly and wise, she guides both the audience and the other characters via prose, poetry and song. She was beautifully played by Chloë-Jean Vincent whose airy and ethereal vocals were a highlight.

Also central to the work is musical director/composer Keshet, whose live guitar imbued  Cluer’s evocative lyrics and lines variously with enchantment, mystery and romance, and transported us between eras and cultures.

As Cote, Melissa Westlake flipped between portraying an old woman confronting long-suppressed memories and her buoyant younger self, with impressive versatility, aided by Jewell’s simple but effective costuming.

In the role of Mayim, a Jewish woman living in Scotland who grapples with both her father’s past and her own present, Jo Morris deftly drew us into her world. The classic defiant teen, Macy Curtis gave a thoroughly recognisable performance as Javiera, a West Australian kid born of Chilean parents. Playing numerous supporting roles, Federico Longo Huntington and Ethan Battle brought moments of humour to the proceedings, their Gen Z/influencer parody, “Fascionistas”, particularly enjoyable.

Special credit must be given to the talented and brave 21 year old Battle. Stepping in at one day’s notice to cover for an actor who was unwell, he managed the multi-faceted, multi-accented, multi-lingual role with sensitivity and charisma.

In her program notes Cluer mentions that though she began writing A Magical Guide a decade ago, concerns about the rise of oppressive regimes and racial hatred have only become more pressing. But this work is more than a timely reminder of lessons learned from history; it also speaks to the importance of holding multiple truths.

Moving, engaging and ultimately bathed in hope, A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism was warmly received at its single night season at 10 Nights in Port.

Future performances of A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism will be announced on Instagram: @magicalguidetofighting