REVIEW | Cassie Workman’s Aberdeen
Cassie Workman in Aberdeen. Credit Jake BushWritten by Bronagh
Disclaimer: We were invited to watch this performance in return for an honest review.
Most people are aware of Kurt Cobain, even if they have never knowingly listened to a Nirvana song. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, known for his fierce anti-establishment views and as a member of the ’27 Club’. Being a musician and being part of a club oozes exclusivity, glamour… but as Cassie Workman tells us over 55 minutes, there was no glamour associated with Kurt Cobain and least of all, in his death. Cassie’s Aberdeen is not a chic place, a sunny home to the rich and famous. Instead, it is rainy, industrial and dirty – and Kurt Cobain’s birthplace.
Aberdeen is a 55-minute spoken word marvel, the fictional tale of Cassie travelling back in time – alongside the ghost of Kurt Cobain – trying to save him from committing suicide. Cassie wants to save him from his violent death, and also the tragedy of not being discovered for three days. The passages relating to Kurt’s suicide are rather intense, and the more difficult sections to digest. We see the raw emotion from Cassie, with her wet eyes and visceral reactions to his death and the aftermath. Cassie keeps up with the rhythm and poetry, scarcely missing a beat, despite acknowledging there is nothing poetic about the icon’s death.
Aberdeen strikes a good balance between witty and moving, some sections resulting in the audience laughing out loud and some a lot more poignant. Aberdeen acknowledges Kurt’s cult status and how he brought people together, as shown by Cassie encountering another morning fan at Memorial Park but not needing to say anything as they both knew how the other felt. It is not unusual to mourn musicians or other famous faces, despite having never met them, and Aberdeen shows just how much one person can bring people together.
Soho Theatre is a glorious gem in Central London, where Aberdeen fits in perfectly. The audience surrounds Cassie as she performs and is such an intimate space that we can see when she had tears in her eyes. Lighting is used extremely well for a small space, veering between bright lights and total darkness which really does emphasise the intensity described by Cassie.
Overall I really did enjoy Aberdeen and found Cassie to be a brilliant performer. To keep up 55 minutes of spoken word with only one or two minor stumbles is extremely impressive. She kept up the stamina, immersing herself in the raw emotion of not only a mourning fan, but somebody who felt a deep connection despite never meeting Kurt Cobain.
At Soho Theatre until 16 December 2023.
★ ★ ★ ★
