Out of the Margins

“This scene was so quickly mastered by Jodie in UK/US production – using her Scouse accent was so beautiful here.” 

This is an extensively annotated printed script of the sell-out Broadway version of Prima Facie, the play about Tessa, a barrister who defends those accused of sexual assault, who is then assaulted herself, forcing her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.
With each separate annotation at least 15-50 words, it’s a forensically annotated piece by the Australian playwright with a background in human rights law and science. 

Suzie Miller talks about the vital importance of the sole performer’s role given it’s a one-woman show: that relationship is so crucial and she frequently references the multi award-winning Jodie Comer (15 times in fact), who performed in the smash hit West End and Broadway productions winning multiple awards including the Tony, Olivier, Outer Critics Circle and Evening Standard Award for Best Actress and the Olivier Award for Best New Play. 

It almost feels like we’re with the playwright in the rehearsal room or the stalls - “When I watched Jodie develop this scene in rehearsal it was incredible – she layered it over and over”, “Jodie always ‘toys’ with this unseen character beautifully on stage”. And it’s worth finding out the part that often brought Suzie Miller and Jodie Comer to tears in rehearsal. 

This really is a revelatory annotated edition of the printed script, but it doesn’t just stay in the rehearsal room. Throughout Suzie Miller refers to the audience’s reactions, especially when a line “always gets a laugh” or is “an audience pleaser”. There are personal reflections on being in court, the playwright’s legal knowledge, and parallels between theatre and court - “This is one of the very important lines in the play”. Suzie Miller talks about Tessa throughout, her motivations, what Suzie loved writing about her, what made her laugh when writing the play, and in rehearsals, and what she was trying to say in particular moments - “Every time I see this scene on stage I’m blown away by how much fun the actor has”.