KJT and Jodie are both flying the flag for Liverpool in their professions
KJT and Jodie are both flying the flag for Liverpool in their professions
Katarina Johnson-Thompson was in attendance at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre yesterday evening to watch her St Julie’s Catholic High School classmate and friend Jodie Comer, take to the stage in her final performance as Tessa Ensler in the hit stage production Prima Facie.
The Emmy, BAFTA, Olivier, and Tony Award–winning actor marked the return home of Jodie, who is now among the most successful faces in Hollywood. Prima Facie took over the Liverpool Playhouse from March 17 to 21, offering Merseyside audiences one of the most celebrated theatrical performances of the decade.
Olympic athlete Johnson-Thompson posted a picture of a poignant poster which is currently displayed outside the city centre theatre, highlighting the astounding figures surrounding sexual assault in the UK. The poster ends with the hard-hitting statement: “25% thought the police wouldn’t do anything about it. 24% thought the police wouldn’t believe them. Something has to change.”
The powerful one woman show was written by Suzie Miller and follows high flying barrister, Tessa, whose world is shattered after she is sexually assaulted and the law is used to protect her abuser from being brought to justice. The performance marked the end of four years in the role for Jodie, who first performed the show in the West End in 2022.
In a separate photo shared by Johnson-Thompson, it showed the tour poster and Jodie’s character. She captioned the image with a red heart emoji. The show previously won Jodie the industry’s highest awards, including the Olivier and Tony for her performance.
Bringing the show to a venue like the Playhouse has been very special for Jodie, ahead of the final tour dates she said: “I can’t think of a better finale to what has been such an incredible and deeply rewarding chapter in my life.”
Jodie and Johnson-Thompson have always been supportive of each other, regularly sharing heartfelt messages and cheering on the achievements of one another. The actress, who starred in 28 Years Later, took to Instagram prior to the Olympics beginning in 2024, she wrote: “When you give everything to a thing. We love you.”
After Johnson-Thompson’s return to Liverpool after the medal win, she posted: “Leaving Paris with a medal and the best memories.” Jodie uploaded the post onto her stories, adding in the smiling emoji face that holds back tears.
Their friendship began while attending St Julie’s Catholic High School. The successful athlete previously spoke to The Athletic about the actress, she said: “She’s an incredible actor and friend. To see her pushing the boundaries and doing things she’s passionate about in such a phenomenal way and for the whole world to see.
“I’ve been a witness to it my whole life and I’m just so happy the world is finally seeing the brilliance we have. She really does make me proud and inspires me to be a better athlete.”
Jodie has spoken fondly about Liverpool and her family and friends who live in the city. She said: “The way you communicate with people, it’s the laugh you’re able to have with people you work with. Not taking yourself seriously. There are so many things that I think of friends and family, or strangers that you meet from Liverpool.
“I don’t think that essence leaves you and it’s something I miss a lot when I’m not in Liverpool and you come home and you’re reminded of if straight away.”
