Actress Kim Shin-rok, School of Drama, Cast for a Play, Prima Facie

Actress Kim Shin-rok, an alumna of the Department of Acting at the School of Drama, was cast in the lead role of the one-woman play, Prima Facie. This production marks the play’s premiere in South Korea, and will be staged from August 27 at the Medium Theater (Black) in the Chungmu Arts Center.

Written by a playwright and lawyer Suzie Miller, Prima Facie premiered in Australia in 2019. This play later achieved great success on London’s West End and Broadway in New York. With tickets sold out for every performance, the production created a sensational stir worldwide after its release on NT Live. In 2023, it won a number of prestigious awards, including Best Actress at the Tony Awards, Best New Play and Best Actress at the Laurence Olivier Awards, leaving a strong impression on the contemporary theatre community.

The plot follows Tessa, an ambitious barrister who initially focused solely on securing victories in court, but after becoming a victim of sexual assault, dedicated 782 days to fighting for reforms in the legal system. The play offers a thought-provoking message by exposing a loophole in the legal system that requires sexual assault victims to provide flawless evidence to secure convictions.

The Korean cast drew much attention, as the play is to be led by a single actress for its entire 110-minute running time. For the role of Tessa – who must fully narrate events, embody multiple roles, and express extreme emotions – Kim Shin-rok was selected alongside Lee Jaram and Cha Jiyeon. Kim has established a powerful presence across film, TV, and theatre, with notable works including the Netflix film, Uprising (2024), Netflix series Hellbound (2021-present), and play Heal the Living (2022). With her profound experience and insight, Kim’s portrayal of Tessa is highly anticipated.