We sat down with actor Sof Forrest, who plays Tessa Ensler in Susie Miller’s internationally acclaimed one-person play Prima Facie, which opens at Carriageworks on the 2 July. In a performance charged with precision and vulnerability, Forrest reflects on the emotional and physical demands of embodying a character whose belief in the justice system is shattered and why this story continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
Prima Facie has become one of Australia’s most successful plays. Why do you think it’s resonated so widely
Sof Forrest: Susie Miller captured the zeitgeist of the Me Too movement, but more than that, she created a painfully accurate depiction of how the justice system retraumatises survivors of sexual assault. The justice system fails survivors in every single country, and so no matter where this piece is set, it really resonates and emboldens audiences to challenge a broken and biased system. The one-person format also forces the audience to experience that failure alongside the character, not just observe it. Its very powerful.
What drew you to the role of Tessa Ensler?
Tessa’s transformation is what captivated me. At the start of the play, she fundamentally believes in the justice system and due process, she thrives in it. But when she personally experiences its failures, that belief is shattered. Through that vulnerability, she finds strength and begins to challenge the system itself. As an actor, it’s a gift to be handed a role with that much emotional and intellectual range.
What was your first reaction when you read the script?
The first time I read it, I was emotionally drained and invigorated. The story is enormous and so much trauma is unpacked, but there’s also this incredible call to action which is very important. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.
What has been the most rewarding part of performing Prima Facie?
The conversations that happen afterwards. After my brother saw it, he told me he was at the pub with some mates who’d also seen the show, and they were actively talking about consent. Seeing young men engage in those conversations is so important. The show has a real ripple effect, it moves people to question what they’ve taken for granted and think about how they support survivors.
And the most challenging part?
The assault scene and then everything that comes after it. As an actor, you have to go to emotionally volatile places while staying in control enough to keep telling the story. Kate Champion, our phenomenal Director, reminds me that I owe it to Tessa, and to every survivor, to stay the course and tell this story with care and clarity.
What was it like working with Kate Champion and Susie Miller?
They’re both extraordinary. Kate had such a strong, clear vision. As an actor, that’s a dream. Susie saw our show multiple times before we opened and gave incredibly kind, insightful feedback. Her ability to find the emotional beats in a legal argument is unmatched. It was a true collaboration.
How do you sustain the energy for such a demanding performance?
Every night, there’s this moment before I walk on stage when I think: “Oh my god, I can’t go back now.” But then it begins, and the momentum of the story takes over. Susie knew actors would be terrified, so she made the opening scenes fun. Tessa’s winning cases, tearing through courtrooms, it’s exhilarating.
You perform over 25 characters in this solo piece. How do you prepare?
I worked with an incredible vocal coach to find each character’s voice – their intonation, rhythm, pace. Every night before the show, I run through all of them in my dressing room. It sounds completely unhinged, but it’s necessary. Every set change, every costume change is done on stage so there is no break which is really full-on.
Why should audiences come and see Prima Facie?
Because it’s more than just theatre. It’s an invitation to engage in one of the most urgent conversations of our time. It’s a window into the lived experience of survivors, into a system that is structurally biased. And it’s a story that can create understanding, empathy, and change.
Can you recommend any pre or post show reading for people who want to engage in the subject matter more deeply?
For those wanting to engage more deeply with the themes explored in Prima Facie, there’s a growing body of powerful writing and film by women authors and directors that unpacks conversations around consent, power and reform. Below is what I recommend.
Books
– Consent Laid Bare – Chanel Contos
– How Many More Women? – Jennifer Robinson & Keina Yoshida
– Know My Name – Chanel Miller
– She Said – Megan Twohey & Jodi Kantor
– Bite Back and Taboo – Hannah Ferguson
– Prima Facie – Suzie Miller (of course!)
Films
– How to Have Sex, dir. Molly Manning Walker (SBS On Demand)
– Promising Young Woman, dir. Emerald Fennell (Netflix)
– She Said, dir. Maria Schrader (Prime Video or Paramount+)
– On the Basis of Sex, dir. Mimi Leder (Netflix)
– Suffragette, dir. Sarah Gavron (Netflix)
Lastly, can you describe Prima Facie in three words?
Power. Truth. Justice.
Carriageworks presents the Black Swan State Theatre Company production of Prima Facie from 2-12 July 2025. Tickets are available here.