Prima Facie
Posted in daily
was dark, rainy and gloomy. The kind of day that makes you want to huddle up, and batter down the hatches. Despite the weather conditions, we set out in the early evening darkness, braving the wind clutching our umbrellas, while skipping over the bright town lit puddles, to make our way towards the Scène Cæcillia for the last representation of Prima Facie.
And boy was it worthwhile.
prima facie | ˌprʌɪmə ˈfeɪʃ(i)iː | Law
adjective
based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise: a prima facie case of professional misconduct.
First, the venue was unexpected. It took place in a derelict old theatre that served as rehearsal stage for the Comédie de Genève before they moved to their new location. We arrived late and settled in the last free seats up in the back right. The room was dark and filled with stage smoke, with four vertical light stripes lighting up the right of the stage. The vibes were set for the delivery.
At its core, Prima Facie is a monologue, depicting a direct confrontation of both sides of the British judicial system.
Anna Budde delivered a powerful and poignant performance. She plays the role of Tessna Ensler, a young and brilliant barrister who specialises in defending men accused of sexual assault. She shares the thrill and power plays of finding the cracks in the victim's depositions, to apply the law by the letter (witnesses in sexual assault cases are required to provide crystal-clear evidence for a conviction to be secured), and cashing in one "win" after another until she is sexually assaulted herself.
The lights and vibes change dramatically, the stage play is cleverly set up to transport you into from one point of view to another.
It's intense. For close to 2 hours, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, dealing with in turn with laughter, rage, sadness, empathy, despair. Several days later, it still resonates deeply.
Things need to change. For real.
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Happy birthday Mum ♥