Cassie Workman Aberdeen
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$36.00
About This Show
And it rains on 1210 East First street, the same miserable rain that fell on him.
And it rains on stinking Aberdeen, on my hero’s origin…
And nature feuds with the broken streets, each burgeoning weed its violence,
And since he didn’t want to speak, I, sopping wet, broke the silence.
“I didn’t know a place could have such fucking ugly rain.”
I sort of murmured half unconscious, to the ghost of Kurt Cobain.
This is going to sound crazy, but just give me fifty-five minutes to explain,
I am standing in ankle deep water, in Aberdeen, holding hands with Kurt Cobain.
In 1994 the world lost one of its most beloved musicians, grunge icon, Kurt Cobain. Part eulogy, part fantasy, part biography, ‘Aberdeen,’ is an in-the-round conversation between multi award-winning writer, comedian, musician and animator, Cassie Workman with Kurt that takes place across Washington State, including his hometown, of Aberdeen.
Grunge, Life, Death, and Salvation, this striking, original work is performed entirely in rhyming couplets and is a heartbreaking homage to one of our most beloved artists.**
“‘Aberdeen’ began as a nameless writing project in the basement of the Imperial Hotel in Sydney, and soon became a runaway train. I had been working on this project for almost two years when I decided to travel to the United States, to further research Kurt Cobain’s life. I visited the places he lived, and where he died, and I was particularly struck by his hometown, Aberdeen, Washington. Whilst there, I made the highly unorthodox decision to turn everything I had gathered into an epic poem and name it ‘Aberdeen.’ It took months to create the final product, and I had several major depressive episodes during the writing, because of the incredibly dark subject matter. I made no effort at all to protect my own psyche, because I wanted the purest possible depiction of the struggle between life and death. It is a level of artistic rigour that I will probably never subject myself to again. The writing of the show was funded by a generous grant from the City of Sydney, and during a brief lull in covid cases, I was able to preview it, sadly, only twice. I’m delighted but also a little afraid to finally present it to a live audience in a festival environment. I hope you enjoy it.” Cassie Workman
In 2019 Cassie’s universally acclaimed comedy tour-de-force ‘Giantess’ sold out its entire run and was nominated for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for most outstanding show, the festival's highest accolade.
SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST THEATRE AWARD- 2022 WINNER
Phoebe Waller Bridge
“I was captivated from start to finish. Cassie is a phenomenal storyteller. I could practically feel the rain that she conjured. We were lulled by the elegance of her writing and wit into an unforgettable story of raw pain, fury and fragility. It is a howl of a poem. I was floored.”
The Times Critics Picks
The Times, Friday 12, 2022, review
“Unexpected and uncompromising solo show by the Australian performer Cassie Workman, which has been championed by the writer and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge….Workman is an arresting performer… her poem is dense but unfolds patiently in a performance of real versatility and stamina”
The Times, Thursday 11 2022, page 3 feature
“Phoebe Waller Bridge is among critics bowled over by an epic poem about Kurt Cobain”
The Guardian, Thursday 11 2022
“Workman delivers a darkly beautiful hour of spoken word”
The Scotsman, Friday 12, 2022
“It is both a meditation on the nature of depression and an exploration or unrequited love… Out of something bleak, hopeless and irreversible Workman has created a thing of beauty.”
Whats on Stage – fringe first winners revealed
Entertainment Now – True Believers: The Best New Writing, Aug 20th 2022
“Workman is an absorbing, authoritative performer… Aberdeen is a beautifully written and performed hour-long poem in which Workman imagines herself transported to Kurt Cobain’s hometown in Washington State on a mission to save the doomed Nirvana frontman from himself.”
“If you suffer from comedy malnourishment and are in need of a major shot of mana replenishment, then look no further than the celestial Cassie Workman to put your world right! Do not miss your chance to see a winner of a coveted Shockingly Awesome & Funny Human Award™ (as noted in Lilly’s Super Secret Handbook of Rankings That Nobody Knows About!)" Lilly Wachowski (Director: 'The Matrix')
"Fierce intellect… something raw and powerful. Brilliant" **** The Age
"Poetic, reflective, powerful and deeply personal, Giantess is a remarkable show from a uniquely gifted comedian. I can’t wait to see what she does next.” ****1/2. Arts Hub, Australia (review of “Giantess”)
Soho Playhouse Thu 15 – Sun 18 Sept 2022, 9pm
Please be advised that the performance begins promptly at the time indicated and late admittance is not guaranteed. Contains strong language. Age 16+
Show Details
Dates:
Opening Night: September 15, 2022
Final Performance: September 18, 2022
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