After worldwide success, from the West End to Broadway, the Australian masterpiece Prima Facie makes its triumphant return to Sydney in a new production from Black Swan State Theatre Company directed by Kate Champion and starring Sof Forrest, at Carriageworks from 2-12 July 2025.
Winner of the 2023 Olivier Award for Best New Play, this electrifying one-person play by Suzie Miller is an emotionally gripping courtroom drama that challenges theatre audiences to consider the treatment of women within the legal system and the profound need for change in the pursuit of true justice.
The play follows Tessa, a skilled defence barrister addicted to winning, who has risen from working-class origins to the top of her game. A master of her craft, Tessa will relentlessly prod, probe and cross-examine to bring the shadows of doubt in favour of her clients.
Specialising in defending men accused of sexual assault, Tessa’s world shifts dramatically when an unexpected event places her on the witness stand, forcing her to confront the intersections of patriarchal power, burden of proof, and morality within the law.
Prima Facie is a call to action for change, and a searing indictment of a legal system that has failed to provide reliable pathways to justice for women in sexual assault cases. It holds a mirror to topical societal and legal issues that are exasperated by the shortcomings of a patriarchal justice system.
Director Kate Champion:
Bringing Prima Facie back to Sydney, where it first premiered, 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.
Following their critically acclaimed performance as Tessa at the State Theatre Centre of WA, Sof Forrest (Barons, Love Child) reprises the role.
Forrest :
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.
Since its world premiere in Sydney in 2019, Prima Facie has garnered international acclaim and numerous prestigious honours including three Australian Writers’ Guild Awards, the 2023 Olivier Award for Best New Play, and four Tony Award nominations. The play has now been translated into over 20 languages and is currently being adapted into a feature film starring Cynthia Erivo.
As part of its presentation of Prima Facie, Carriageworks has partnered with Teach Us Content, a youth-led, not-for-profit organisation working towards eradicating sexual violence and promoting sex and gender equality. Teach Us Consent and Carriageworks will provide support resources that help audiences further engage with the themes of consent and justice explored in the play.
The resources are designed to equip viewers with practical tools and information to continue the conversation beyond the performance, encouraging reflection, learning, and meaningful action in support of survivors and systemic change.
Prima Facie is presented as part of the Carriageworks Winter program, showcasing powerful works by world-class Australian talent that bring together bold voices, passionate storytelling, and unforgettable performances across theatre, music and dance.
Other program highlights include the razor-sharp black comedy Trophy Boys, the world premiere of Sydney Chamber Opera’s Aphrodite, and the Sydney debut of Australian Dance Theatre’s Marrow, alongside a jam-packed Vivid Sydney lineup.
Prima Facie is presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company and Carriageworks from 2-12 July 2025.
Season Details
Venue: Black Swan State Theatre Company
Date: 02-12 July 2025.
For more information click HERE
Photo Credit: Daniel J Grant
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