| What: Prima Facie by Suzie Miller Where and where: Cape Town – The Baxter Studio August 4 to 29, 2026 Johannesburg – Barney Simon at the Market Theatre – September 17 until October 4, 2026 Bookings: Webtickets. Director: Neil Coppen Performer: Danica De La Rey Jones Lighting Design: Tina Le Roux Set Design: Patrick Curtis Sound Design: Charl-Johan Lingenfelder |
Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie, South Africa 2026. ❇❇❇❇❇
Brilliant play; tour de force emotionally charged performance by, superlative direction by Neil Coppen for How Now Brown Cow Productions. Rapturous standing ovation – by the audience – kind of stunned by the experience of watching this harrowing and utterly transfixing play.
I attended a preview as I am not able to attend the opening this weekend, so my review will follow, after my 2nd viewing of this riveting production.
As you can see from this clip, Danica was visibly overcome by this role.
This preview was sold out. Even house seats were taken. The opening on the weekend is sold out.
I mention this not just as an invitation to go and see this important and brave play but also as I see it emblematic of the ethos of this piece of theatre – the importance of showing up and interrogating how utterly shattering it is for survivors of #GBV who are seeking justice from the law.
I am not going to plot spoil what happens to the feisty fabulous protagonist, Tessa. “Win” or “lose”, showing up is at the crux of this story, for me. It is about Tessa, the protagonist showing up. It’s about Danica showing up and giving her all – peeling back and scraping back layers of self through lived performance.
It is about the audience already showing up to give their attention to Suzie Miller’s intricately plotted drama.
Design is wondrous – gorgeous chic slatted space which shifts seamlessly – law chambers, court room, domestic spaces.
This is supposed to be a quickie review. Bravo to team How Now Brown Cow. Worth flying from the UK or Australia or wherever to see this production. We don’t use a star system in SA but for this production I am – as they use the star system in the UK. Five stars.
By the way, they have localized the play in a SA context. But it has been done subtly, with care. The original is set in the UK. They have a jury system for instance and the barristers wear wigs. We don’t. So in this production, there is a judge and assessors.
Astounding piece of theatre. Do not miss. SHOW UP. Be a witness for victims of GBV and enable them to become survivors.
❇ Pic – Danica De La Rey Jones in rehearsal for Prima facie.
