After conquering the West End and Broadway, Australian play “Prima Facie” returns to Sydney with a new production by Black Swan State Theatre Company.
Directed by Kate Champion and starring Sof Forrest, the season runs at Carriageworks from July 2–12th.
Written by Suzie Miller, “Prima Facie” is an electrifying one-woman courtroom drama that scored the 2023 Olivier Award for Best New Play. It’s a powerful reckoning with the legal system’s treatment of women, and a sharp call for reform.
The story follows Tessa, a defence barrister at the top of her game, known for her ability to dismantle witnesses and instil doubt, particularly in cases involving sexual assault. But when she’s forced onto the witness stand herself, Tessa is plunged into the very system she once mastered, confronting uncomfortable truths about justice, power, and the burden of proof.
Since its 2019 world premiere in Sydney, “Prima Facie” has earned international acclaim, been translated into more than 20 languages, and is now being adapted into a feature film starring Cynthia Erivo. Along the way, it’s picked up three Australian Writers’ Guild Awards, four Tony nominations, and that coveted Olivier.
Champion says bringing “Prima Facie” home is “profoundly significant.”
“The play has resonated with audiences around the world, sparking urgent conversations about justice and systemic change. To now reimagine it here, in the city where it all began, is a full-circle moment – one that underscores the ongoing relevance and power of Suzie Miller’s story.”
Forrest, who first played Tessa at the State Theatre Centre of WA, returns to the role.
“I am honoured to return to Tessa, she has been the greatest challenge of my career to date, and I am so excited to dive back into this powerful story. Prima Facie forces us to reckon with the complexities of justice, power, and truth, her deeply personal transformation I hope charges our audience to continue the conversation of consent and bettering our system to support survivors long after this show ends.”
The Carriageworks presentation is supported by Teach Us Consent, a youth-led nonprofit working to end sexual violence and promote gender equality. Together, they’ll offer resources to help audiences engage with the themes of the play beyond the theatre.
“Prima Facie” is part of Carriageworks’ Winter program, which also features the black comedy “Trophy Boys”, the world premiere of Sydney Chamber Opera’s “Aphrodite”, and Australian Dance Theatre’s “Marrow”, alongside a stacked Vivid Sydney lineup.
Final tickets are on sale now here.