From 6th to 8th March the stage of the LAC Lugano Art and Culture hosts for the first time in Ticino First Face, the play by the Australian playwright suzie miller which in recent years has sparked an international debate on the issue of consent and the ability of judicial systems to protect victims of sexual violence.
The show comes to Lugano thanks to the Finzi Pasca Company, which holds exclusive staging rights for Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland, and marks the company's debut at the LAC with a production that comes at a time of strong public attention to women's rights.
A Ticino debut full of meaning
On stage Friday 6 March at 8pm, Saturday 7 March at 20pm and 16pm and Sunday 20 March at 17pm, First Face it is a monologue entrusted to the Italian-Brazilian actress Melissa Vettore, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, who also signs the direction and the lighting design.
The text, translated into Italian by Margherita Mauro, focuses on the story of Tessa, a brilliant criminal lawyer specializing in sexual assault cases. A traumatic event suddenly shatters her professional and personal beliefs, forcing her to reconsider the deeper meaning of justice and the workings of a system that, while claiming to be fair, can prove distant from the real-life experiences of victims.
From the stage to the global debate
The Latin title First Face – “at first sight” – recalls a legal principle based on the initial presumption of truth. It is precisely this apparent evidence is called into question by the play, which highlights the gap between formal and experienced justice.
After its debut in Sydney in 2019, the show quickly spread internationally: in 2022 it landed in London, where it won two Laurence Olivier Awards, before moving to Broadway. Performed in 48 countries and translated into over 20 languages, First Face it has become a cultural case capable of influencing public debate, also contributing to legislative reflections in the UK and leading the author to speak at the United Nations on the legal rights of victims of sexual abuse and harassment.
The play also gave rise to a novel, published in Italy by Neri Pozza, which explores the same themes: power, social class, gender, and the contradictions within sexual crime trials.
The footprint of the Finzi Pasca Company
The Lugano production fits into the distinctive poetics of the Compagnia Finzi Pasca, known for a scenic language that combines lightness, visual impact, and emotional intensity. The original music is by Maria Bonzanigo, the sets and props by Matteo Verlicchi, the costumes by Giovanna Buzzi, with video design by Roberto Vitalini for bashiba.com.
In his director's notes, Finzi Pasca emphasizes the fast-paced, musical pace of Suzie Miller's writing and her desire to craft a theatrical structure capable of surprising without betraying the power of the text. A "tiptoe" narration that approaches a story that, sadly, remains relevant and widespread, leaving room for reflection rather than rhetoric.
Beyond the Show: Initiatives and Public Discussion
The debut of Prima Facie in Ticino It is part of a broader awareness-raising project against gender violence, promoted by the City of Lugano, LAC, and Rete Donna Svizzera, in collaboration with Compagnia Finzi Pasca.
On Sunday, March 8th, at 3:00 PM, in the LAC Hall, a roundtable discussion open to the public will be held with representatives from the institutional, academic, and cultural worlds, to explore the issues of gender-based violence and the protection of women's rights. On Tuesday, March 10th, at 6:00 PM, again at the LAC, a second meeting will offer a scientific perspective on the relationship between violence, brain trauma, and cognitive health, highlighting how stress and abuse can leave lasting neurological scars.
The project was born from a preview of the show presented last summer and is now structured around an operational group and a network of ambassadors in the area, with the aim of transforming the artistic experience into a concrete action of prevention and awareness.
“Prima Facie” in Ticino
Tickets are available at the LAC Ticket Office, in Piazza Bernardino Luini 6 in Lugano, or online on the official website.
For information and presales:
LAC ticket office
Tue – Fri: 11: 00-18: 00
Sa – Su: 10: 00-18: 00
Tel 41 (0) 58 866 4222
At the table with… Daniele Finzi Pasca, creativity and imagination at 360 degrees
