This screening is made possible with the kind support of Empire Street Productions and National Theatre Live. A donation from each ticket sold will go to support The WOW Foundation’s work. The WOW Foundation is a charity that believes a gender equal world is desirable, possible and urgently required.
Find out more and sign up to WOW’s newsletter at thewowfoundation.com
This exclusive screening of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play is presented as part of 2023’s WOW Festival in London, which takes place 10-12 March at Southbank Centre and brings together incredible speakers, performers and more for three days of unmissable events and activism. Find out more below.
Starring Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) in her astonishing West End debut, Prima Facie tells the story of Tessa, a young, brilliant barrister. She has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game; defending; cross-examining and winning. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.
Prima Facie takes us to the heart of where emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game.
Justin Martin directs this solo tour de force, captured live from the intimate Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End. After sold out runs in cinemas across the UK, Prima Facie is back on the big screen for one night only as part of the WOW – Women of the World Festival.
Post screening discussion
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion led by WOW Founder Jude Kelly, with Helena Kennedy KC, Kate Parker and Danielle Manson, who’ll give their perspectives on the play.
Helena Kennedy has been at the Bar for 50 years and is one of Britain’s most distinguished lawyers, spending her professional life giving voice to those who have least power within the system. Kate Parker is the founder of the Schools Consent Project, the official fundraising partner of Prima Facie during its West End and Broadway run, and Danielle Manson assisted the creative team with their research for the play, including facilitating the time they spent at the Old Bailey. She has since launched a project aimed at exploring whether (now in its 20th year) the Sexual Offences Act 2003 deals appropriately with issues of consent and reasonable belief in consent.
ABOUT WOW FESTIVAL LONDON 2023
WOW is the world’s biggest festival dedicated to celebrating women, girls and non-binary people, presented by UK gender equality charity The WOW Foundation. Everyone is welcome to join for three days of unmissable events and activism, taking place this Friday to Sunday at Southbank Centre.
Every day you can book a WOW Day Pass, giving festivalgoers access to a daily different line-up of talks, workshops, music and more. Speakers include Julia Gillard, Kathy Burke, Laura Bates, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Lauren Laverne, Stella Creasy MP, Stephanie Yeboah, Meera Syal and many more; discussing everything from climate change to fillers, miscarriage to incel culture.
In the evening, join us for headline events – Off Air with Jane and Fi, The Big O with Oloni and Roxane Gay Live at WOW. As well as ticketed events, you can explore free gigs, the WOW Marketplace, family events and loads more. Tickets start from £10. Visit thewowfoundation.com for full details and to book.
PRIMA FACIE
Director: Justin Martin
Writer: Suzie Miller
Lighting: Natasha Chivers
Designer: Miriam Buether
Composer: Rebecca Lucy Taylor
Sound: Max & Ben Ringham
Video: Willie Williams for Treatment Studio
Cast: Jodie Comer
100 mins
An Empire Street production
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Programme notes and credits compiled by WOW – Women of the World and the BFI
Questions/comments? Contact the Programme Notes team by email