Digging deeper than face value
Innocent until proven guilty is the bedrock of human rights but in the one-woman play, Prima Facie, Tessa Ensler learns the hard way that this isn’t always the case. Cassandra Woodhouse will bring the award-winning show to Arrowtown in March, taking the stage to continue the call to action that this story is demanding worldwide.
The play follows barrister Tessa as her views of the legal system change. She reaches the top of her game – prosecuting, cross-examining and winning in the courtroom with her quick wit and intelligence. She often defends those pleading not guilty, including securing freedom for those accused of rape and sexual assault. An unexpected event forces her to confront the system she’s spent her life believing in.
Woodhouse first became interested in the show after seeing it at National Theatre Live in Auckland. After swearing off ever doing another solo show, she walked out of the performance so moved that she applied for the rights straight away.
“This play has been bigger than me and it had a life of its own,” she says. “This will be my third year touring it and looking back now, I see that it was quite divinely guided from that moment. It felt like a calling that I had to really bring the show to as many New Zealanders as possible.”
She believes we all have the ability to listen to survivors that share their stories and that it’s a huge part of their healing journeys. The show really highlights that we all have the power to be the change within ourselves, rather than waiting for systems to change. Before bringing the show to life she headed over to New York to see it in a different environment and feel the atmosphere and energy in the room.
“What I really noticed was that there was a lack of support for audiences, which I have really made it a priority for me. As I’ve toured the past couple of years, having support in the audience for audience members, whether it’s sexual harm organisations or psychologists, or someone there to hold space for the audience, which thankfully we actually haven’t really had to use but it’s comforting to know that it is there.”
Creating the one-woman show has been a mammoth task, but one Woodhouse says is totally worth it. It’s completely self-funded and driven by a passion to get the word out there, especially to smaller communities where these issues are rampant. Her personal hope is that the show will raise awareness to what is a bit of an underbelly in New Zealand. It’s a show that people walk away from hungry for change, and to continue an important conversation.
“I think suppression and repression and keeping it silent and not talking about it has only made it worse. Until we start having these conversations and bringing it out of the shadows and start treating it like we’ve dealt with drunk driving and domestic abuse and mental health – we’re only protecting perpetrators by keeping silent.”
While the play may focus on a heavy topic, people shouldn’t feel heavy about coming along. Woodhouse describes it as a beautiful experience of bringing people together. A lovely way to connect in this digital and at times isolating world.
“I encourage people to come and have that experience with their friends or their neighbours, their families or their husbands and wives, and to embrace it. To welcome it. I am really looking forward to bringing it down and connecting with everyone in that part of the country,” Woodhouse says.
Through this journey, Woodhouse has also been inspired to write a book, which she hopes to have some first editions to bring along to Arrowtown. It explores all she’s learnt on this journey and the support she can continue to give people.
Cassandra Woodhouse will perform Prima Facie at Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall on Tuesday, 17 March, from 7pm. Tickets and more information can be found at Humanitix.
