The latest work from How Now Brown Cow Productions, Prima Facie, is a dramatic one-woman show about the failures of the justice system. However, to reduce the stage play, both the Tony and Laurence Olivier Award-winning original and this South African debut, to a single sentence would be an enormous disservice.
This new production, directed by veteran storyteller Neil Coppen and performed (incredibly) by masterful actress Danica De La Rey Jones, is a tragic, beautiful, and truly astounding piece of theatre, writes Loki de Pontes.
Be warned: Prima Facie and this review discuss distressing and potentially triggering material regarding gender-based violence and sexual assault.
What is Prima Facie about?
Prima Facie introduces audiences to Tessa, a criminal defence lawyer with immense talent. We see her in action immediately, showing off her legal prowess by expertly playing her witness to get what she needs in an amusing and sharply-written courtroom scene. She quickly rises up the ranks and starts working for various men accused of sexual assault, using her skills to get them acquitted and earn the respect of her peers.
However, her career, social life, and belief in both the justice system and herself come crashing down after a horrific scene with a man she came to trust. What starts off as a somewhat comedic and sometimes thought-provoking examination of a young woman turns to a painfully uncomfortable exploration of what it means to be a victim and a survivor of a system you once believed in.
It is this extensive introduction to Tessa that makes Prima Facie‘s message resonate so deeply with viewers. Rather than move from court case to court case, we spend time learning about Tessa’s family, those she loves, what she thinks of herself, and the world around her. The play invites the audience to learn to love Tessa, only to force herself and everyone watching to barely hold back their tears as her life unravels.
An inspiring production
It would be impossible to talk about the greatness of Tessa’s character without heaping praise on Danica De La Rey Jones’ performance. She manages to captivate the audience for over two hours completely by herself, and in doing so impresses on every front. Her comedic timing is stellar, she is able to imitate multiple characters and accents with absolute ease, and her emotional vulnerability made the majority of the theatre burst into tears several times. She brings Tessa to life in a way that somehow balances the flashy theatrics needed to keep viewers entertained with the intimate bits of humanity that make us fall in love with a character. There are no words of approval that an actor can receive that De La Rey Jones doesn’t deserve for her work here.
After the play had finished and she returned for her curtain call, she was met with a standing ovation from every single person in the crowd. It was so overwhelming that she came back to bow for a second time, visibly tearing up at the reception. What was clear was her unquestionable connection to the play and the character herself, and seeing what Prima Facie, Tessa, and the audience’s adoration meant to her was perhaps the most moving moment of the night.
The play’s direction, staging, and lighting are all also superb. The entire crew makes the most of a small stage, using and reusing props and costumes in a way that keeps things fresh while servicing the story. The lighting team does great work, carefully shifting the atmosphere as the narrative develops from an entertaining show to a suffocating courtroom. Slight rewrites move the setting from London to Johannesburg in a way that grounds Prima Facie‘s story for South African audiences, a great choice for adapting the story to new viewers. The biggest surprise of the show was the soundtrack, which, at times, reaches levels of groovy that are simultaneously shocking and welcome.
A timely story
With the historical significance of August for South Africa and the nation’s ongoing pandemic of gender-based violence and femicide, Prima Facie is a serious case of right place, right time. For some, it is an eye-opening experience of what is happening on a daily basis. To others, it’s a caring depiction and timely reminder of how far our society still has to go.
All shows for the Cape Town run are unfortunately sold out. However, those living in or traveling to Joburg can still catch Prima Facie at The Market Theatre in late September and early October. More information is available here.
Cost: R140pp to R220pp (half-price Wednesdays); R50pp (50th Year – code required). Book via Quicket
When: Running from 17 September to 4 October 2026 | Wednesday to Friday at 7pm; Saturday at 3pm and/or 7pm; Sunday at 3pm
Where: Barney Simon at The Market Theatre, 138 Lilian Ngoyi St, Newtown, Johannesburg
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