Delivered in the Australian Parliament on 9 October 2012, Julia Gillard’s historic misogyny speech, has had a profound and enduring impact both within Australia and globally.
The speech defined a moment in Australian politics and inspired a broader cultural awakening. More than a decade later, it remains a powerful reminder of how truth, eloquently spoken, can echo far beyond its original setting.
Following sold out premiere seasons in Canberra and Sydney in 2023 and a national tour in 2024, Joanna Murray-Smith’s critically acclaimed play, JULIA, directed with sharp intelligence by Sarah Goodes and featuring Justine Clarke as Julia Gillard, has returned to Melbourne.
JULIA offers a compelling, fictionalised interpretation of the first female Australian Prime Minister’s life. With a tour-de-force performance from Justine Clarke as Julia Gillard, this production pulses with urgency and emotional depth.
Clarke’s portrayal of Gillard is nothing short of masterful. She embodies the former leader with poise and precision, capturing not only Gillard’s steely composure but the complex emotional terrain beneath it.
Her delivery of Gillard’s historic misogyny speech is as electrifying as it is necessary – and in Clarke’s hands, it transcends history to become a rallying cry for today.
Equally compelling is Lotte Beckett as the Young Woman, whose presence acts as both audience surrogate and counterpoint, bridging the personal with the political and threading intergenerational dialogue through the narrative.
Sarah Goodes directs with restraint and intelligence, allowing Murray-Smith’s script to breathe while underscoring its fiercest moments with emotional weight. Goodes leans into the rhythms of political theatre, but also allows space for introspection – for memory, regret, humour, and fury.
Visually, the production is striking. Renée Mulder’s design creates a minimalist, modern space that balances austerity with elegance. Alexander Berlage’s lighting design is purposeful, shifting fluidly between time periods and emotional registers.
Susie Henderson’s video design adds a visceral layer of context, reminding us how public scrutiny is amplified in the digital age. Meanwhile, Steve Francis’ composition and sound design underscore the narrative with a subtle but persuasive tension, adding atmosphere without overpowering the text.
JULIA is not just a play about one woman’s leadership – it is a meditation on power, agency and resilience. It reminds us that history is not merely what happened, but how it is told, and who gets to tell it. In this triumphant production, Gillard’s voice – and the voices of women who follow – are given the space, the respect, and the amplification they deserve.
JULIA is a vital, moving and impeccably crafted piece of theatre. A definite must see!
JULIA
Playhouse – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 25 June – 19 July 2025
Information and Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
Following the Melbourne season, JULIA will play the Playhouse – QPAC, Brisbane, from 15 August, and the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong, from 3 September 2025.
Image: Justine Clarke in JULIA – photo by Prudence Upton