Kim Sin-rok and Cha Ji-yeon have returned to the stage.
The play 'Prima Facie' is a work by playwright Suzie Miller, a former human rights lawyer, which premiered in 2019 in Australia and has made a significant impact on the West End and Broadway as a powerful solo performance. It portrays the lonely struggle of 'Tessa', an ambitious lawyer who only pursued victories in the courtroom, becoming a victim of sexual assault overnight and confronting the legal system over 782 days.
This work sharply captures the harsh burden of proof that victims must endure in sexual assault trials and the flaws of the legal system, leaving a profound resonance. Following a sold-out run in every performance, it has gained explosive acclaim through live broadcasts (NT Live) to theaters around the globe, winning the 2023 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play, and Best Actress, making a strong impression on contemporary theater.
As the only actor must take full responsibility for the stage for 110 minutes, attention is focused on the cast making its Korean premiere. Selected for the role of 'Tessa', who embodies the character at the center of the incident and conveys all situations while oscillating through extreme emotional lines, are Lee Ja-ram, Kim Sin-rok, and Cha Ji-yeon.
Lee Ja-ram is a pansori artist known for productions such as 'The Old Man and the Sea' and 'The Hardworking Woman', and she has built a distinctive artistic world on both domestic and international stages as a performer, music director, and writer.
Kim Sin-rok has made a strong impression transcending screen and stage with a powerful presence in films such as 'The Drug King', Netflix's 'Hell', and the play 'Healing the Living'. All eyes are on her 'Tessa', enriched with experience and skill.
Cha Ji-yeon, who has captivated audiences with explosive stage dominance and delicate expressiveness in musicals like 'The Bridges of Madison County', 'Gwanghwamun Sonata', and 'The Last Empress', is making her return to the theater stage after a long time and is expected to create another iconic character.
Furthermore, the attention is drawn to director Shin Yu-cheong, who is gaining recognition in the theater world. Through plays like 'Tevye Land', 'Angels in America', and 'Wife', director Shin has garnered attention from audiences and critics with a sharp perspective and sophisticated direction. In this work, she is also expected to vividly portray intimate emotions and intense narratives.
Recently, as the theater community has seen a surge in solo performances with plays like 'Jekyll and Hyde', 'Healing the Living', and 'On the Beat', it is noted that the meeting of solid texts and trusted actors and creative teams will mark 'Prima Facie' as a pinnacle of solo performances.
Meanwhile, the play 'Prima Facie' is set to be performed from Aug. 27 to Nov. 2 at the Chungmu Art Center's Black Box Theater.
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