Former prime minister Julia Gillard’s iconic speech to the Australian parliament more than 10 years ago still resonates with women around the world.

With Gillard fiercely guarding her privacy since leaving politics, playwright Joanna Murray-Smith speculates on her life, regrets and what led to those history-making 15 minutes now known as the misogyny speech.

Julia, a production by the Sydney Theatre Company, brings the speech to the stage with the titular character played by award-winning actor Justine Clarke.

As part of her research, Murray-Smith interviewed Gillard. While she would not endorse the play, the former prime minister did not complain about it being written.

Murray-Smith left their meeting surprised by Gillard’s humour, charm and humility.

“In a way, I think that was her downfall in that she didn’t let people in and it was hard (for the public) to glimpse the humanity,” she told AAP.

“I was surprised at how much I liked her (and) my admiration for her grew when I realised what she was up against and what she actually got done (in office).”

Yet the award-winning playwright did not want Julia to be a hagiography, and instead delved into Gillard’s flaws and failings along with her strengths as prime minister.

Murray-Smith said the misogyny speech lent itself to a dramatic re-telling, particularly a decade on, after Australians had the time to reflect on its meaning.

“We have so few examples of really theatrical moments that captivate the public out of the whole mass of words you hear channelled through parliament,” she said.

“That was what was so astonishing about it, not just the content to do with women, but also the fact that a politician was passionate enough to allow their natural moderate nature to break through and say ‘enough is enough’.”

While Gillard now commands a huge fan base, particularly among young women, as prime minister she faced vitriolic sexism and abuse.

Director Sarah Goodes did not want the audience to be left with an impersonation of the former prime minister, but rather a narrator.

“(Julia) was ridiculed so much. People just spoke about her voice and didn’t listen to what she was saying a lot of the time,” she said.

“When we first meet her on stage, we’re meeting a narrator. Slowly through the course of the piece the narrator evolves into Julia.”

In her performance, Clarke was keen to redefine the embodiment of the former prime minister, without the tropes of the accent or red hair.

She said the theatre was the perfect place to do that.

“It’s an incredible speech to perform. It’s got extraordinary power. It’s got amazing rhythm,” Clarke said.

“She uses repetition really beautifully. You can tell she’s someone who’s been on her feet and speaking her whole life because it’s actually a bit of an endurance test.”

Murray-Smith said while the play was not satire, it was funny and reflected Gillard’s own droll humour.

She said a uniqueness to the play came from the audience remembering the misogyny speech when it was delivered.

“There’s an energy that comes from something that recent being such a memorable part of all of our lives,” she said.

Julia premieres at the Canberra Theatre on Tuesday and runs until Saturday, before being performed at the Sydney Opera House until mid-May.