Prima Facie
May 20 -
May 30
ITA / Eline Arbo

Eline Arbo directs Maria Kraakman in author Suzie Miller's award-winning play. This hard-hitting monologue was a sensation in the West End and on Broadway. Numerous versions were produced worldwide. Eline Arbo was the first to stage the play in the Netherlands. Maria Kraakman won the Theo d'Or for the most impressive acting performance in a leading role for her role in Prima Facie.
'Maria Kraakman acts masterfully.' - de Volkskrant ★★★★★
- Date
- April 4, 2026 - May 30, 2027
- Duration
- 105 min, no interval
- Genre
- Theatre
- Taal
- Dutch
- Surtitles
- Available at one or more shows
- Location
- Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam
Maria Kraakman plays the role of Tessa, a clever and ruthless criminal defence lawyer specialising in sex crimes. She has broken away from her working-class environment and now resides among the privileged elite. Justice is a sport to her. She feels that, compared to her male colleagues, she believes she takes down victims of sexual abuse more decently than her male colleagues do.
She keeps defendants out of prison by sowing just enough doubt and always bringing out ‘the legal truth’. Until the tables irrevocably turn. An unexpected event confronts her with the tense relationship between the patriarchal power of the law, the burden of proof, and morality.
Tickets and times
Dutch Theaterjury - Winner Theo d'or for the most impressive acting performance in a leading role


Reviews
'Maria Kraakman triumphs in poignant indictment of antiquated moral laws.'
'Kraakman captivates you for one and a half hours long.'
'This monologue is a one-and-a-half-hour tour de force for the actor: Kraakman completes it in a seemingly effortless manner, with humour, as well as overcome with shame and sadness.'
Director Eline Arbo
“Suzie Miller knows how to tell an incredibly beautiful and personal story combined with a burning topical issue: modernising our sex offence code. In the Netherlands, too, we lag behind in protecting victims of sexual abuse. Prima Facie is a piece that brilliantly exposes how the age-old legal system is maintained and who is actually protected by our laws.”

From: Prima Facie
Sexual Assualt Centre
If you feel the need to talk after the performance, you can always contact the Sexual Assault Center (Centrum Seksueel Geweld). You can call (0800-0188) or chat completely anonymously.


Credits
by
Suzie Miller
direction
Eline Arbo
translation and dramaturgy
Anna Sijbrands
scenography
Renée Faveere
light
Varja Klosse
sound design and composition
Thijs van Vuure
costumes
Rebekka Wörmann
private producers
Joost and Marcelle Kuiper, Peter Nohlmans and Esther Kwaks
this production is supported by
de Philip Loubser Foundation binnen de Ibsen Artist in Residency van Eline Arbo

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