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When Prima Facie opened at the Market Theatre on 16 September, the intention had been to stage the production until 4 October. However, an overwhelming response from audiences has prompted the theatre to extend the run until 11 October.
The plot and why it resonates with South Africans
Penned by Australian human rights lawyer turned full-time playwright and screenwriter Suzie Miller, the production’s focus on sexual crimes against women is a universal story.
But for South African audiences, the story hits very close to home given the gender-based violence statistics in this country. Recent tragic events in Ekurhuleni, where the bodies of 12 women have been discovered, make Tessa’s story even more topical.
Played by Danica De La Rey Jones, the play chronicles the story of a young woman who was raised by a cleaner mother and pulled herself up by her bootstraps to become a successful defence attorney, despite the expectation that she was destined to become a “university dropout”.
Taught to believe in legal instinct instead of her gut instinct, Tessa dominated the courtroom by first duping witnesses into believing she was a clueless pretty face during the first few minutes of her cross-examination. Once they drop their guard, she transforms into a beast, making them spiral out of control and trip over their own words.
“You don’t need to prove whether or not the sex was consensual. You just need to prove that the alleged perpetrator believed it was,” was Tessa's outlook on sexual assault cases as a lawyer. However, when a colleague from a wealthy family switches from being her lover to being her assailant in a sexual assault scene, everything Tessa believed about her career, the justice system and even this crime itself, is turned on its head.
Danica describes playing Tessa as an honour and a duty, as sexual assault has been the current state of affairs for women, children and even men in this country for decades.
“It’s still a call to action no matter what; regardless of whether it's good or not, these things need to be said,” says Danica. While carrying a story of this nature and magnitude does take its toll, the actress still feels compelled to forge ahead.
Theatre remains an impactful medium
Testament to how impactful the play has been is how Danica shares that judges from the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal came to see the show last week.
Asked what the extension means for the creative team given the decline in theatre audiences, Danica says it means the production is on everyone’s lips and that it has had a far-reaching impact.
“It means that the story is engaging with our audiences and they feel compelled to support it because it’s aligned with what is happening in our society at the moment,” she adds.
But for the actress, the impact is not just felt emotionally but physically as well. Psychotherapy, physiotherapy and a lot of steaming have been her form of self-defence against the toll of Tessa’s story over the past few weeks.
“I find it easier to keep to myself and contain the energy and then, on my days off, I pour it all back into me. Therapy is very important, and physio, because my body also takes on a lot of trauma.”
The biggest challenge to playing Tessa has been her strong femininity and how sure she is of herself because, as a woman, Danica says she doesn’t naturally feel that way. The role has pulled her completely out of her comfort zone.
Tickets to Prima Facie can be booked on Webtickets.
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