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Prima Facie

69 replies

KeyboardWarriorsUnite · 24/07/2022 05:59

Has anyone seen this? It was astonishingly good. (It's a National Theatre Live production)

There's nothing particularly new or groundbreaking in the subject matter - but the way it was dealt with and Jodie Cromer herself were both brilliant.

TW - the play is about rape and the way it gets dealt with through the legal system, so it could be a very difficult watch for some people.

OP posts:
not4profit · 25/08/2022 22:51

I also saw it at the theatre a few months ago. My clever daughter bought tickets (fairly inexpensive I believe) back in February when sales opened. The day we went there was an excellent panel discussion afterwards. It was an incredible evening

EmmaH2022 · 25/08/2022 23:07

not4profit · 25/08/2022 22:51

I also saw it at the theatre a few months ago. My clever daughter bought tickets (fairly inexpensive I believe) back in February when sales opened. The day we went there was an excellent panel discussion afterwards. It was an incredible evening

Must be jaw dropping to feel the atmosphere in the theatre.

DoIWantThis · 03/09/2022 09:11

My 28 year old daughter and I saw a screening of this at a theatre last night - absolutely incredible. It opened up a long and interesting conversation between us on the long journey home. She was astonished at the teenage/early 20's experiences I'd had with men and I was proud of the way she stands up for herself today. So very different to me. I do not mean that I felt that I was sexually assaulted, but my reaction to sexual pressure in the late 70's early 80's was so wrong. You were bought a drink - give in to it, you kissed at the the end of the disco - give in to it, he walked you back home - you are obligated to give in - you owe him!
Apologies if I am not describing it well. At this point in my life at the age of 56 and single - I am stronger, but I don't believe I will ever be as strong as my daughter.
I hope that this production is going to be shown in every school in the land.

hangingbagger · 04/09/2022 10:36

I saw this last month at the cinema and was completely blown away. I went with my husband who found it almost as earth-shatteringly important as I did, and opened up some interesting discussions for us on our own experiences. It's such an important piece of art and I'd like to share with my own daughter when she's old enough.

I can't imagine the weight of emotion in the room that must be when you see it live - it was electric simply watching it on a big screen. Jodie Comer is better than incredible, words can't describe really.

SleepingStandingUp · 04/09/2022 10:41

So jealous of anyone who saw it live. I saw it alone at the cinema (packed cinema but I went alone I mean) and hadn't realised how heavy it was. The lads on the counter were gently warning people which was sweet but still, it made me cry. And Jodie is bloody amazing.

apples6 · 04/09/2022 10:56

I saw this at the Harold Pinter and it was incredible. Such a small theatre as well which was nice.

CTPT · 05/09/2022 08:38

Saw this at the cinema and was astounded at how impeccable Jodie Comers performance was considering just how full on the show was with non stop dialogue. It just amazed me how anyone could learn that many lines and perform like that for 90 minutes! Absolutely phenomenal talent.

I'm also jealous of anyone who saw it at the Harold Pinter theatre, I hadn't realised how small it was till the cameras panned out.

The couple next to us left the cinema at the point of the assault. It was very well done but quite harrowing.

CTPT · 05/09/2022 08:39

Also just wanted to add that I really enjoyed the musical accompaniment by Self Esteem.

baffledbunny · 07/09/2022 20:32

I just watched this yesterday and am still blown away by it and Jodie's amazing performance. I knew it was supposed to be a hard-hitting storyline about the legal system and rape, but I think the points about the process for victims in the legal system really came across so strong. Unfortunately I don't think anything will change until the following happens:

  1. the legal system becomes less patriarchal (somehow)

  2. the focus is more on identifying and punishing actual wrong-doing, and not on winning one's legal case. I think there was a line that alluded to how the police tend to focus on finding the actual perpetrator, while lawyers only care about "justice" for their client (but I might have read too much into it).

  3. Related to that is the education of lawyers - One thing that came across to me was that Tessa's cambridge law teacher said what was important was the "legal truth", (ie: not the actual truth?). So therefore lawyers are taught to "win" their cases for their clients (something Tessa believes in too, from the beginning). But in effect, this means thst the actual idea of "justice" for the victim becomes a bit of a side issue. Therefore there is no victim or perpetrator, unless the lawyers manage to argue it as such. So is the law really just? (I'm not a lawyer or had legal training myself so I may not be making much sense here but this is what I understood from the play!)

Anyway, I'm still astounded at the way JC held the show together single-handedly, powering through the full-on script with hardly a break, with all the nuances, pauses and physical acting going on, not to mention costume changes, different character's voices and heaving the furniture about! She has such a strong voice too. I can't even give a 5 minute presentation at work without my voice drying up so I honestly don't know how she did it, especially over the course of 9 weeks of live shows!

I don't think I can ever forget that look in her eyes when she was demonstrating how she was being raped, and the realisation of what was happening to her - it was truly harrowing. She's truly becoming the best actress of our age imo. I hope it wins all the stage awards available for this year.

baffledbunny · 18/09/2022 20:59

Jodie Comer won best stage debut award for prima facie!
twitter.com/TheStage/status/1571579483169120259

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 18/09/2022 21:02

It is brilliant. JC is incredible in it.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 19/09/2022 08:39

well deserved Jodie Comer

RoachTheHorse · 22/09/2022 15:47

So well deserved.

SleepingStandingUp · 22/09/2022 23:31

baffledbunny · 18/09/2022 20:59

Jodie Comer won best stage debut award for prima facie!
twitter.com/TheStage/status/1571579483169120259

Amazing news

DoIWantThis · 24/09/2022 06:02

Absolutely well deserved! What a woman! All hail Jodie Comer!!!!

Margot78 · 13/04/2023 23:25

I have just seen this and it’s one of the best plays I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe how bloody good Jodie Comer is. She has to remember so so much dialogue and talks constantly, rarely stopping. She is also in control of moving the set around. She was utterly mesmerising. I decided to subscribe to National Theatre at home as I can’t afford to go the theatre and I’m sick of trying to find something decent on Netflix. This was worth the subscription fee alone.

determinedtomakethiswork · 13/04/2023 23:26

Wasn't it fantastic? She is an incredible actress.

beguilingeyes · 14/04/2023 06:42

And it's her first stage performance. She's got an Olivier under her belt too now.
Prima Facie opens in New York next week. They're not going to know what's hit them.
I just wish I could afford to go.

Bellagio40 · 20/04/2023 00:47

I just saw Prima Facie this afternoon in a small theatre in New York. I was in the fifth row. Absolutely incredible.

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