prima facie

Presented by arts on tour nz

Tessa Ensler loves her job. She’s worked her way up from working-class background to being the top criminal defence barrister at the top of her game – prosecuting, cross-examining and winning in the courtroom with her quick wit and intelligence. Fighting to defend those pleading not guilty – including securing freedom for men accused of rape and sexual assault. Innocent until proven guilty is, after all, the bedrock of human rights.

An unexpected event forces Tessa to confront the very system she has spent her life believing and working within - a system where the lines of patriarchal power and burden of proof are not set up to accommodate the lived experience of sexual assault survivors.

Directed by NZ acting royalty Michael Hurst and performed by Cassandra Woodhouse, NZ Theatre Company is honoured to bring Prima Facie to the NZ stage and continue to call the action that this story is demanding worldwide.

Session details

Doors open 6:00 pm
Performance starts 7:00 pm

Presales $25
Door sales $35

Content warning

This performance includes references to sexual assault. Recommended for audiences aged 15 years and above, parent or guardian advised.

Book now

Event page

Reviews

“Cassandra has delivered a war cry for the wounded wāhine within so many of us, and it is as fierce as it is vulnerable.”

- Tarryn Utiger

“Make sure you see this, it is a superb piece of theatre. A standing ovation says it all.”

- Lexie Matheson ONZM

“Prima Facie transcends what I know to be ‘the theatre experience’ & it’s become something else that I have no name for. It’s sublime storytelling from a sublime storyteller, shaped by a theatre genius, and it’s for us. A gift without ego. No strings attached. As teamwork, it’s beyond good.”

- Lexie Matheson ONZM

"This production is not just a play but a poignant commentary on justice and the complexities of human rights. Highly recommended for its compelling narrative and outstanding performance by Cassandra Woodhouse."

- Broadwayworld

About the artists

Michael Hurst

Director

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Michael Hurst has worked in theatre, film and television as both actor and director.

Michael has been celebrated widely as one of New Zealand’s leading theatre actors and directors , with scores of roles to his credit.He is also known for his innovative and compelling productions of Shakespeare, and, more recently, King Lear for Auckland Theatre Company and his solo work in plays such as The Golden Ass, No Holds Bard, The Daylight Atheist and An Iliad which he has toured successfully across NZ.

Highly regarded as a television director, he has pursued this aspect of his career for over 20 years, working on shows such as Spartacus, Westside and The Dead Lands. In 2003, he was made a New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate and, in 2005, he was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to theatre.

Cassandra Woodhouse

Actress

Cassandra has been in the entertainment industry for 20 years. Having worked professionally on stage, film and as a model.

Cassandra is the founder of NZ Theatre Company which was born of the passion to create a company that supports, develops and sustains the arts. A strong advocate of mental health, Cassandra is committed to establishing an environment that promotes the wellness of artists and society through strong, conscious storytelling and providing employment opportunities that enable artists to feel supported & and sustained to further develop their craft and artistic careers.

From 2022 - 2023 Cassandra produced and performed a nationwide sell-out tour of the one-woman show HANNA by Sam Potter connecting her to thousands of people across NZ and with whom she shared an intimate, unforgettable and heartfelt experience with both on and off the stage. Her ability to hold space for audience members after sharing stories that can expose a lot of vulnerability is a gift that has her being welcomed back to venues all across NZ.

Suzie Miller

Writer

Suzie Miller is a contemporary international playwright and screenwriter drawn to complex human stories often exploring injustice. Her plays have been produced in 40 productions around the world winning multiple prestigious awards, she has been commissioned by, or been in residence at theatres including London’s National Theatre, the National Theatre of Scotland, Griffin Theatre Australia, Theatre Gargantua Canada and La Boite Theatre Australia.

In 2020 her drama PRIMA FACIE (premiered 2019, Griffin Theatre) won the 2020 AWGIE for Drama; the 2020 David Williamson Award for Outstanding Theatre Writing; and the 2020 prestigious Major AWGIE across all categories of theatre, film and television. In previous years she has won amongst other awards, the National Griffin Theatre award (2018), the Kit Denton Award for Writing with Courage (2009); the NY Fringe Festival Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Playwriting (2008); AWGIE for Radio Play writing (2013); Inscription (and a mentorship with Edward Albee 2006, 2009); and more.

It has now been translated in 20 languages.

PRIMA FACIE has enjoyed extraordinary acclaim in 2022 marking Suzie’s West End debut produced by Empire Street Productions and starring Jodie Comer before transferring to Broadway in 2023. In 2023 the production won the Tony Award for Best Actress (Jodie Comer) and the Olivier Award for Best New Play and Best Actress (Jodie Comer) and was nominated for a further 3 Olivier Awards along with the What’s On Stage Award London for Best New Play.

Tuesday 24 March 2026