Clark plays God - and the witch disappears

Helen Clark

Helen Clark has a new role - as "the voice of God" in a production of the children's play Badjelly the Witch.

Director Ben Crowder describes the Prime Minister's voice recording as a small but "absolutely critical role" in the Silo Theatre production of the Spike Milligan tale, now on in Auckland.

Mr Crowder said Helen Clark had been asked to contribute to keep the oldies amused.

"Probably the Helen Clark voice is one of the few moments in the show which is more appreciated by the adult audience."

The company had asked Helen Clark rather than other politicians because of her contribution as Arts and Culture Minister, he said.

"We had a long discussion and various names were mooted. But we wanted to have a God that we liked, rather than one we disliked..."

In the play the Prime Minister tells Badjelly - chasing the characters Tom and Rose - to "go away". Badjelly replies and she says, "But I'm God".

When the witch threatens to scratch God's eyes out, God works her magic: there are explosions and Badjelly disappears.

A spokesman for Helen Clark said: "She likes to join in the fun and very happily responds to requests to take part in children's shows."