Following a successful season at the Mahara Art Gallery in Waikanae in May, DOUBLE PORTRAIT: Finding Frances Hodgkins is coming to the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Shed 11, Wellington Waterfront.

The dates are: November 27, November 28 at 6pm,   December 4, December 5 at 6pm. Bookings at Downstage Theatre www.downstage.org.nz   4 shows only.

Growing up in Dunedin I was interested in Frances Hodgkins from an early age. The Dunedin Public Art Gallery always had her paintings on display, and we had reproductions of her works at home.

How did a woman, born into a colonial world, conceive the idea that she could live the life of a professional artist? The play explores this question through Hodgkins interactions with a number of key individuals in her life.

Hodgkins' letters provide a treasure trove of thoughts and information. However she was a very private person and I have taken my own imaginary journey into her personal relationships.

I was fortunate to have a three month residency at the Robert Lord Writer's Cottage in Dunedin in 2007 when the early drafts of this play were written.      

The play is directed by Ralph McAllister, and the actors are myself (playing Frances Hodgkins), John Wraight and Perry Piercy.