Prima Facie

In the organizer's words:

Prima facie - legal term for "prima facie evidence","until further notice ", "prima facie evidence"

Suzie Miller's award-winning monologue is about Tessa, a young criminal lawyer for whom the legal truth is paramount.

"I haven't lost a case in weeks."- Tessa is on her high. "If there are gaps in the story, point them out." Emotions and morals play no role in the courtroom. Whether it's drug abuse or sex crimes, it's all about the legal truth and the presumption of innocence. Tessa is convinced of this until the day she herself becomes the victim of a sexual assault. Although she is well aware of the obstacles in the system, she presses charges. She becomes a defender of herself. The sudden change of sides puts her trust in the legal system to the test.

"All I know is that something has to change." - Tessa Ensler in Prima facie

Suzie Miller's stirring monologue premiered in Australia. In spring 2022, Jodie Comer ("Killing Eve") played the role of Tessa at the National Theatre in London. More than 300,000 viewers saw the play in cinemas through the National Theatre's live broadcast.

Suzie Miller is a British-Australian playwright and screenwriter. Her plays have been produced worldwide and have won numerous prestigious awards. PRIMA FACIE premiered at the Griffin Theatre Sydney in 2019, toured Australia in 2021 and won the 2020 Australian Writers' Guild Award for Drama, the 2020 David Williamson Award for Outstanding Theatre Writing and the prestigious 2020 Major Australian Writers' Guild Award in all categories for theater, film and television. The production also won the 2023 Olivier Award and the 2023 WhatsOnStage Award. Suzie Miller lives in both London and Sydney.

Katharina Schüttler was awarded the 2024 Rolf Mares Theater Prize for her performance as Tessa Ensler. The jury's reasoning: she plays "with a naturalness and aplomb as if the author had written the role for her".

Awarded with:

Australian Writers' Guild Award 2020

David Williamson Award 2020

Best New Play - Olivier Award 2023

Best New Play - WhatsOnStage Award 2023

Hamburg Rolf Mares Theater Prize 2024

On April 8, 2025, a free post-performance talk with actress Katharina Schüttler and Anja Del Caro, head dramaturge of the Hamburger Kammerspiele, will take place after the performance.

Price information:

Drama