Helen Clark in Six Outfits

She didn't just break the glass ceiling; she ice-axed it.

Back in 1967, her farewell testimonial from Epsom Girls Grammar made a classic mistake: it underestimated her. Decades later, she’s become a trailblazing force — New Zealand’s first elected female Prime Minister and a global powerhouse at the United Nations.

Now, award-winning writer Fiona Samuel MNZM (Pike River) brings us Helen Clark in Six Outfits, a sharp, satirical, and laugh-out-loud new play that charts Helen’s extraordinary journey from Waikato farm girl to political icon. Played in her later years by the radiant Jennifer Ward-Lealand CNZM, Helen’s story unfolds through six defining outfits as younger and older versions of herself unpack 50 years of personal and political battles.

From fiery debates with her father to relentless public scrutiny over her looks, marriage, and motherhood — or lack thereof — Helen’s rise is told with wit, warmth, and a few jaw-dropping moments. Commissioned by Auckland Theatre Company and premiering now, this is a bold, stylish deep dive into what it really takes to lead.

And as the final outfit is revealed, one question lingers: if Helen smashed the ceiling, what’s stopping the rest of us?