Prima Facie

“Objection, Your Honor!” Tessa Ensler is one of London’s top criminal defense attorneys, specializing in cases of sexual violence. Anyone Tessa cross-examines must be prepared for anything. She knows how to refute “prima facie” (Latin) — the “initial appearance” of a crime. But then Tessa herself becomes a victim, a witness, and a plaintiff. All that remains for her is to find her voice—for the women who sat there before her. For those who will come after her. For ten years now, the rule in Germany has been: “No means no”—that is, any sexual act “against the recognizable will” of another person is a criminal offense. But what if a “no” is denied, and the victims are not heard? In the wake of the Epstein, Weinstein, and Pelicot scandals, we’re presenting Suzie Miller’s moving courtroom monologue *Prima Facie* at the Glasfoyer in Krefeld and at the studio in Mönchengladbach, starring Carolin Schupa as Tessa Ensler.