Point of View

Prima Facie being a one woman play with a single point of view is crucial to its impact. The play is told entirely from Tessa’s perspective, which ensures that the audience experiences events directly through her eyes. This choice is significant because it leaves no room for ambiguity: the assault unquestionably happens. Unlike narratives that explore consent through conflicting accounts or "he said, she said" dynamics, Prima Facie does not present multiple perspectives or suggest any grey areas. The audience knows the truth from the beginning, which makes the injustice of the legal process even more glaring.

By centering Tessa’s point of view, the play avoids engaging in debates about false accusations or the difficulty of balancing victims’ rights with due process. Instead, it focuses on a single, undeniable truth: Tessa was raped, yet the system treats her as a liar unless she...