National Theatre Live Season Opens with "Prima Facie" in Stackhouse Theater

W&L's Lenfest Center adds 'National Theatre Live' to their Outreach & Engagement Winter Season Series

National Theatre Live Season Opens with "Prima Facie" 
W&L's Stackhouse Theater in Elrod Commons: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

The best of British theater shown on the Stackhouse Theater cinema screen!

$20 GENERAL ADMISSION; $8 W&L STUDENT/STUDENT

"Prima Facie" is the most watched National Theatre Live title to date: Running time is 125 minutes and is R Rated.

W&L's Lenfest Center's University Outreach & Engagement Series announces their newest season addition—the 'National Theatre Live' series-screenings of three top British theater productions. The performances will be shown on the W&L's campus Stackhouse Theater screen located in Elrod Commons at 7:30 p.m.

Whether you're in Birmingham, Berlin or Lexington, Virginia-as it plays, moment by moment-this is your ticket to sold-out, award-winning, unmissable theater live from Britain's most exciting stages. The screenings open with "Prima Facie" on March 5; and continue with "Frankenstein" on April 7; and "Fleabag" on May 7. Tickets are required.

Lenfest Director Jordan Peimer states, "We are thrilled to be bringing National Theatre Live to Washington and Lee University and the Lexington community. This will allow us access to some of the most prominent actors in their most important roles without traveling hours to see them. Furthermore, it allows us here to participate in important global conversations raised by internationally well-known artists."

The O&E Series addition is focused on bringing National Theatre Live to the W&L campus-connecting university knowledge and art experiences on the W&L campus and beyond to the community in a mutually beneficial partnership.

National Theatre Live brings the fabulous world of London's professional theater and entertainment to Lexington-forever changing the ‘watching' experience and imagination of going to the theater. It mysteriously persuades and convinces the audience they are a part of the theater-watching the drama live as it unfolds and questioning whether it will go as planned? Giving audiences the chance to see beyond the play itself.

National Theatre Live's state-of-the-art filming techniques are tailored to every play, bringing you each performance as it happens. From close-ups that capture tiny flickers of emotion, to sweeping wide shots. BBC journalist Samira Ahmed states, "The way it is shot is cream of great television and screen directing creating theater in the cinema."

Jodie Comer's ("Killing Eve") Olivier and Tony Award-winning performance in Suzie Miller's gripping one-woman play takes us to the heart of where emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game. Justin Martin directs this solo tour de force, captured live from the intimate Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End for a strictly limited season followed by a transfer to the John Golden Theatre on Broadway for another strictly limited run.

The production garnered 24 awards including Olivier, Tony, South Bank Show, Whatsonstage, Evening Standard and Drama Desk recognitions.

Comer plays Tessa, a young, brilliant barrister who loves to win and has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game; defending; cross examining and winning. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge in this "unforgettable moment of theater." (WhatsOnStage).

Tickets are required. Tickets prices are $20 General Admission; and $8 W&L Student/Student. On-line ticket sales are available at https://my.wlu.edu/lenfest-center/national-theatre-live-season-opens-with-prima-facie. Taxes and processing fees are included in ticket pricing.

The Box Office is open for in-person sales Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and is accessible only when undergraduate classes are in session. Forms of payment include cash, check or credit card. Patrons can contact the Box Office by calling 540.458.8000 or emailing boxoffice@wlu.edu. Tickets can be bought the night of the performance on site at the Stackhouse Theater.

The National Theatre Live is sponsored in part by Class of '64 Performing Arts Fund.