Prima Facie

This has to change.”

Prima facie, the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, is the foundation of our civil society. Criminal barrister Tessa Ensler believes in this. Of humble upbringing, she worked her way up: high school, elite college, top law firm. She’s one of the best, winning acquittal after acquittal for her clients by rooting out contradictions and inaccuracies in the opposition’s arguments. Her specialty? Defending men accused of sexual assault – until she becomes the victim of one herself.

Ensemble member and Getrud-Eysoldt-Ring winner Alicia Aumüller, delivers this brilliant monologue by award-winning Australian author Suzie Miller in the Pfauen. She shows what it means to be a criminal barrister straddling two worlds. In one, the justice system offers access to power and career advancement, traditionally reserved for men. In the other, the female experience of sexualized violence finds no room in the male-defined juridical truth. And for the first time, Tessa Ensler questions not just the law, but justice.

Trigger warning: This production deals with sexualised violence and contains explicit, detailed descriptions of sexual assaults and their psychological and physical effects.
Sensory warning: Loud noises, sometimes bright light.