Canberra Theatre Centre (CTC) has once again joined forces with Sydney Theatre Company (STC) to return Joanna Murray-Smith’s smash-hit Julia to the Playhouse stage.
In 2023, Julia premiered in the nation’s capital less than three kilometres from Parliament House where the famous Misogyny Speech occurred over ten years ago.
Julia remains one of the hottest tickets in town for any theatregoer interested in spectacular acting, first-rate directing, the state of Australian politics, or the stirring story of one woman who changed history.
CTC is a proud co-commissioner of Julia and is continually committed to producing new work of a world class quality. The world premiere taking place in the nation’s capital meant Canberra Theatre Centre audiences were the first to see this new work as it was launched into the world.
In 2012 Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female Prime Minister, gave a speech that sent shockwaves around the world. The Misogyny Speech was a reaction to accusations by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that became the iconic moment of her leadership.
“I thought after everything I have experienced, I have to listen to Tony Abbott lecture me about sexism? That gave me the emotional start to the speech and once I started, it took on a life of its own.” – Julia Gillard
Julia is an extraordinary play that sees the glorious Justine Clarke (Children of the Sun) embody the life and career of Julia Gillard in the lead up to the famous speech, in a performance directed by the Helpmann Award-winning Sarah Goodes (Cyrano, Così, The Children).
In a time when Australia has unprecedented female representation in its highest offices, Julia is a timely and beautiful reminder of where we’ve come from and an empowering imagining of where we’re going.
Julia
The Playhouse – Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, Canberra
Season: 31 July – 10 August 2024
Information and Bookings: www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Image: Justine Clarke in Julia, co-produced by Sydney Theatre Company and Canberra Theatre Centre – photo by Prudence Upton