Prima Facie: Jodie Comer to make West End debut in one-woman play about sexual assault

Star will play barrister who defends rapists in drama that has already won awards in Australia

Killing Eve star Jodie Comer will make her West End stage debut in a one-woman play about a lawyer who defends men accused of rape.

Prima Facie, written by Australian playwright Suzie Miller, will run for nine weeks at the Harold Pinter theatre in London from 15 April 2022. It is coming to the UK after winning many awards in Australia, where it debuted in 2019.

The play follows Tessa, “a young, brilliant barrister” who has “worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game; prosecuting; cross examining and winning”, according to the synopsis.

“An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.”

Miller, who worked as a lawyer before becoming a playwright, has said the work is about consent and how the law is used against victims of sex crimes.

Prima Facie, a Latin term used in law meaning “on first impression”, is directed by Justin Martin, whose hit play The Jungle is being adapted into a film.

Comer was most recently seen starring opposite Stephen Graham in Help, a one-off TV show about the UK care system, which was given four stars by The Independent.

Tickets are available for Prima Facie here.

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact your nearest Rape Crisis organisation for specialist, independent and confidential support. For more information, visit their website here.