The show is the Portuguese version of ‘Prima Facie’ by Australian playwright, lawyer, and screenwriter Suzie Miller, focusing on Teresa, a young lawyer who becomes a victim of violence.
During the monologue, which premiered in July 2024 and was resumed in January 2025 at Teatro Maria Matos in Lisbon, Teresa, portrayed by Margarida Vila-Nova, recalls that “one in three women is attacked, whether physical, psychological, or sexual violence.”
As a victim, Teresa is determined to seek justice, facing the necessity to “tell and retell the trauma she experienced.”
“It takes a lot of endurance, a lot of resilience, a lot of courage, and great humility to dive into all these words by Suzie Miller and bring to the stage with the greatest dignity a subject so delicate and important to discuss,” stated Margarida Vila-Nova in comments to Lusa agency following a rehearsal open to the press during the play’s premiere at Maria Matos.
The play came into Margarida Vila-Nova’s life after she watched it in London and encountered “a theme that bothers her” and is “at the forefront,” considering it important to discuss and stage.
“Because I also believe that theater has the capacity to awaken awareness, or at least provoke discussion and dialogue,” she noted, adding that she chose Tiago Guedes to direct the play, who revealed to Lusa at the time that he had been eager to return to directing, so the invitation came “at the right time.”
“There is something that attracted me right away, which concerns the ‘nuances’ of abuse. What is or what is not abuse, especially within a relationship. I think it’s a very serious subject and one that is little talked about or explored – it is always very difficult to talk about it because it happens in intimacy, and it is one person’s word against another,” he shared with Lusa.
Translated by Ana Sampaio, ‘À Primeira Vista’ features set design by Catarina Amaro, lighting design by Nuno Meira, sound design by Carincur, and costumes by Rita Alves. Luís Araújo assists with the direction.
On September 20, the play will arrive at the Teatro Municipal de Portimão, and, two days later, will return for a new season at Maria Matos, set to conclude on December 9.
At Teatro Sá da Bandeira, there will be nine performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
