Prima Facie

Set Design
At the start the stage is very tidy representing her life and that she has it under control. She is
surrounded by white files on bookshelves which go all around the set, floor to ceiling which
represents how many cases there are. They are all lit together, they aren’t seen to her to have any
significance as they are overlooked and not cared for, this changes at the end when only hers lights
up, that is very significant to her. This is seen as the reality in court, the defendants don’t see these
cases as real life situations, they see them as a game to be won. It really shows how society acts
towards these cases, unless it happens to them particularly, they dismiss it.
A lot of the set is used as different objects, the chair is used as a chair and a toilet and a taxi. Even
though they aren’t the actual object, it gives a clearer image to the audience than just miming.
Water in a cup had been used as alcohol as well. She also changes the tables positions to show to
the audience a change in scene.
The use of rain was also significant, it started after she had been raped until the trial started which
can represent the decline of her mental health during these times, she may have not been able to
get help and she had been badly affected by what she had been through. The rain poured for a few
minutes while a projection of days passing until her trial, it shows the sadness of injustice she felt.
The stage was left wet afterwards which is a health and safety hazard, shows the struggle of losing
and how she wanted to give up.

Performance skills
Multi role was used as there was only one actress in the play, she played a range of characters and
made it clear which one she was playing through costume and accent. When playing the role of the
barrister she played lowered the pitch in her voice. She used a higher accent to present innocence.
Levels changed between characters, levels were also used to show emotion, she stood on the table
to show power but was on the ground after the incident to show how powerless and defeated she
felt.
She uses direct address a lot, when speaking to the audience she says, “look to your left, look to your
right”.
In the opening scene she spoke in a higher voice and spoke at a fast pace to show her excitement in
how well she was doing, towards the end it was a lower voice and a slower pace to show how
exhausted she was.
When she addresses the audience, it makes the audience feel uncomfortable, uncomfortable reality.

Costume design
She wore a navy-blue suit for her role as a barrister and a white shirt, white represents innocence
and truth. The suit is professional, she wears trousers which is seen masculine which is emphasised
when she wears the wig. The costume lacks any personality, she is just a role in a court room, she
isn’t seen as a person.
She then wears a silk hot pink shirt which adds personality, her mom got it for her, but she didn’t like
it, but she was too nice to tell her mom that, it tells the audience more about her character to build
a connection with them. Later, she’ll wear it for her trial, and it symbolises family, confidence and
empowerment. It shows femininity which is a contrast from her costume as a barrister, very
masculine and plain. She was given it for being strong and wears it again when she needs to be
mentally strong, it may be a comfort thing to her especially since it was a gift from her mom,
someone she loves and needs at this time.
Tessa also wore a long green dress which represents her confidence in herself and her body, it may
represent her wealth. Being confident gives the impression that she has control over the situation
but loses this when she is assaulted. After the incident she changes to a grey top which shows
vulnerability, she doesn’t care what she looks like now, complete destruction of her self-esteem. It
could also mean that she feels like she got assaulted because of how she dressed as society believes
women ‘ask for it’ if they wear something fitted or low cut.

Director’s vision
The director has the character create a connection with the audience so the incident feels more
personal, and it is harder to watch.
To show the fact that sexual assault and rape cases are usually lost in court when she says, “in a
room full of men” she speaks in an angry tone and has heavy breathing. She is happier at the start
even though her job ruins the lives of many women and at the end when her life is ruined like those
women she is crushed mentally and shows it with levels and voice. The fact that she was a defender
who went through rape shows that it can happen to anyone, and it shows how corrupt the system is;
she didn’t care about the cases and who the real victim was, justice, she just wanted to win. “When
you look at the statistics it’s clearly not working and I find it frustrating how it’s played like a game in
court.” Kate Parker.

Sound
Microphones were used on the table when something was important or to show when the Judge
was talking, it was intimidating, in your face.
There was a use of music which would show the emotion, music can be used to show emotion in a
way that speech or movement can’t, or it can emphasise it. There was music in the opening scene
that was used to increase tension. The music changed during the incident which made the scene feel
cold, it made the audience feel what she was feeling, they would emphasise with her.
A use of sound effects was used, such as a heartbeat which emphasises tension and anxiety felt by
Tessa, it makes the audience tense and unsure of what is about to happen.
During the time lapse a ticking sound was used which shows how long it took for it to be taken to
trial, this gives the impression that there were so many trials to go to court.
When there wasn’t any sound it forces the audience’s attention on Tessa and what was going on,
silence makes the audience reflect on what they had just been shown. It represents isolation, being
flooded with thoughts when you’re alone.

Lighting and design

The files around the set were lit up which shows how many sexual assault/rape cases there were
going to court, ones that had lost. At the start they are all lit up together but by the end only Tessa’s
one was lit up to show the significance of that one to her. At the end they all light up one by one
until all of them are, to show that they are all significant, that is someone’s life, their reality.
During the interview there was a spotlight on her and no other lighting, it forces attention on what is
going on, she can’t escape it, nowhere to go. It is intimidating, not kind. There is nowhere to hide
now. A bright white light was used which represents the truth being said.
While there was rain on the stage there was a round spotlight on the floor and that was the only
light, this shows the audience defeat and sadness.