Allegra Spender was joined by playwright and author Suzie Miller and investigative journalist and author Jess Hill to discuss consent, coercive control and how literature has the power to change laws and norms.
Suzie's one woman play Prima Facie follows a criminal defense barrister whose view of the legal system changes after she is sexually assaulted. The play has been performed across the world, and has irrevocably changed the way sexual assault cases are treated in the legal system. Judges in Northern Ireland now must watch a video of a recent Prima Facie production as part of their training.
Suzie Miller is a contemporary international playwright, screenwriter and author, drawn to complex human stories often exploring injustice. She has degrees in law and science. Miller's plays have been produced in over a hundred productions around the world and won multiple prestigious awards.
Her stage play Prima Facie starring Jodie Comer in the West End and Broadway productions was nominated for 5 Olivier Awards 2023 winning for Best New Play and Best Actress; and nominated for 4 Tony Awards 2023 winning for Best Actress. It has been translated into over 30 languages, produced all over the world and also published as a novel in 6 countries. Miller is currently under commission with several new plays, alongside film and television projects around the world.
Jess Hill has become one of Australia's most recognised and respected thinkers on gendered violence. In addition to her broadcast work - two highly acclaimed docuseries on SBS, a Quarterly Essay titled The Reckoning, and a podcast series on coercive control titled The Trap - she has spoken on coercive control at over 350 events to diverse audiences across the country.
Her work has received multiple awards, including three Walkley Awards, an Amnesty International Award and the Stella Prize in 2020. In 2023, she was named the marie claire Changemaker of the Year and in 2024, the NSW Woman of Excellence.