Everything you need to know about Prima Facie as Liverpool welcomes Jodie Comer home

Jodie Comer is back home and appearing in Prima Facie at Liverpool Playhouse.

They’re the hottest tickets in town, for an award-winning play starring one of the finest actresses of a generation … and we’re incredibly proud to say she’s one of us.

Liverpool’s own Jodie Comer is back in the city from Tuesday (March 17) for a sold out run of Prima Facie at the Playhouse.

And, although it’s just seven performances over five days, it’s among the most talked-about, eagerly-awaited weeks in the theatre’s history.

Tens of thousands of fans scrambled to get tickets for the powerful one-woman play when they went on sale in March last year.

The Playhouse dates – March 17 to 21 – are the final ones on the production’s UK and Ireland tour which started back in January.

Now for those lucky enough to have secured seats, the year-long wait is finally over and Liverpool audiences will get to see Jodie reprise the role that absolutely blew away critics when Prima Facie made its West End debut in 2022.

Jodie, who’s originally from Childwall and went to St Julie’s in Woolton, won the prestigious Best Actress award at the 2023 Olivier Awards for her absolute tour de force performance.

She plays young brilliant barrister Tessa who finds herself on the other side of the legal system when she becomes the victim of a sexual assault, a crime for which she’s often defended the accused, and battling the enormous emotional fallout that comes with that.

Alone on stage for a non-stop, physically demanding 100 minutes, Jodie’s portrayal of Tessa is gut-wrenching and mesmerising, and had critics giving her rave reviews. 

They described it as ‘masterful’ and ‘remarkable’ and when it came to awards season, the judges agreed.

The 33-year-old Scouse actress not only picked up the Olivier, but added Evening Standard, Whatsonstage and Tony awards too.

After success in the West End, Jodie took the play to Broadway where she won standing ovations from New York audiences during a three-month run. 

And, if all that wasn’t enough, Prima Facie went on to become the most watched National Theatre Live title to date. 

Suzie Miller’s gripping, often harrowing play has now been watched by more than 1.2 million people worldwide.

Having it end its limited national tour in Liverpool, with a homecoming for one of our most successful and much-loved stars, is huge for the city and for the Playhouse which is such a strong supporter of local theatre talent both on stage and behind the scenes.

“Seeing Jodie Comer come back to her hometown and perform at the Liverpool Playhouse is a moment of pride for this city,” says Everyman and Playhouse CEO Mark Da Vanzo. “When audiences see one of their own return as a global star, it reaffirms that creativity belongs to everyone”.

As for Jodie herself, she’s clearly excited to be returning to where her career began.

She posted a message on her Instagram saying, “Cardiff, York, Bath, Canterbury and Birmingham, what a pleasure it has been. I can’t quite believe we’re here at the final week of our Prima Facie tour. Liverpool, our tender hearts are ready for your warm embrace.”

Jodie, you do Liverpool proud. Welcome home …

Find out more about Liverpool Playhouse Theatre HERE.

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