Great to see the Queensland Theatre Production of Julia. https://queenslandtheatre.com.au/plays/julia Justine Clarke is a versatile performer, inhabiting the various personae and ages of Julia Gillard. The script sought to capture some of the highlights of the life and times of Julia Gillard.
No doubt it is hard to fit in everything in a politician's wide-ranging political legacies into a play. In some of my policy areas, I always found Julia Gillard and her team to be thoughtful listeners to public policy submissions - particularly in respect of intellectual property, access to essential medicines, tobacco control, healthcare, and trade. For those who care about disability rights, her contribution to establishing the NDIS was critical https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/budget-2013/2013-05-15/gillard-cries-while-introducing-disability-legislation/4690692
The play carries the disclaimer - 'This play is a fictional imagining by the playwright, of true events in the life of Julia Gillard. It combines references to true events, extracts from published works, interviews, fictitious commentary and opinions which the Playwright and the Producers believe to be honestly held. Ms Gillard has not endorsed or read, nor had any artistic input into the production of, this play.' Always tricky to do a theatrical production about a living person - given the nature of Australia's media laws.
