One in three.

That's the number of women who will experience sexual assault in their lives. And that's an uncomfortable truth Suzie Miller addresses in her play, Prima Facie – recently evolved into a novel by the same name (released 14th March 2024).

Keen to better understand the themes behind Prima Facie – namely the limitations of the UK legal system when it comes to cases of rape and sexual assault – The Unfairer Sex was thrilled to get its mitts on a pre-released copy of the book and have the opportunity to speak to Suzie Miller herself about:

• What the text sought out to achieve.
• The overwhelming impact Prima Facie has had in the courts and law enforcement.
• How Prima Facie has contributed to the feminist movement and the public discourse on gender equality and justice.
• Why we're seeing a rise in stories that centre the female experience in sexual assault cases and how they are continually failed by systems intended to support them (Anatomy of a Scandal (2022), I May Destroy You (2020), Promising Young Woman (2020)).
• What it was like working with Jodie Comer for the National Theatre 2022 production, and to continue working with Comer on the novel.
• Future projects – on and off stage.

This conversation was nothing short of awe-inspiring and we hope you love listening as much as we did recording.

P.S. Penguin Random House very kindly shared some audio clips featuring the incredibly talented Jodie Comer – enjoy!

Helpful links:

Jodie Comer and Suzie Miller Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gSOazhMuH0

Right to Equality campaign:

https://theconversation.com/affirmative-consent-campaign-calls-for-sexual-assault-law-change-in-england-and-wales-but-this-approach-has-pitfalls-too-225317

EU Resolution – first EU law on violence against women:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240205IPR17412/first-ever-eu-rules-on-combating-violence-against-women-deal-reached

Tea and Consent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ

Larry Nassar case: The 156 women who confronted a predator:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42725339

Inquiry into serial sexual offender Wayne Couzens:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/29/killer-of-sarah-everard-should-never-have-joined-police-report-finds