Tessa

Tessa is the central character and her journey is the driving force of the play. She begins as a confident, highly skilled defence barrister, in full control of her professional environment. Coming from a working-class background, she has fought her way into the upper echelons of the legal world, succeeding in a profession that is traditionally dominated by people from privileged backgrounds. This underdog status is a source of pride for her, and she enjoys the power she has earned through her intelligence, ambition, and mastery of legal argument.

At the start of the play, Tessa is sharp, witty, and assured. She relishes the intellectual challenge of cross-examination, delighting in her ability to dismantle the prosecution’s cases. She sees herself as an advocate for justice, believing in the law as a fair and neutral system. She enjoys the game-like nature of courtroom battles and, while she understands...