Clare Kerrison's great great grandfather, Hugh Ross, shot a man in a duel on Wellington’s Bowen Street in 1844, in defence of his friend, McDonough's hounour. Later, when McDonough married Ross' daughter, Ross gave him the pistols as a wedding gift.

Now, Kerrison is using this story to fuel a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic Hedda Gabler, in which she stars as Hedda. “We wanted to adapt Hedda for today but stay pretty true to the original, but how do you justify owning dueling pistols in the 21st Century? And then I remembered – actually guys, I’ve got this kind of shady ancestor …”

Ibsen's Hedda Gabler is the story of a beautiful and charismatic woman, who desperately seeks life, yet refuses to let herself really live. The Wild Duck capture this volatile character and adapt, crush and throw her story into the vernacular of modern Courtney place.

With only the lives of those who love her, and her inherited pistols to toy with, she snatches to control anything… or anyone…

The production marks a return to acting for Kerrison as she finishes four years working for BATS Theatre as Business Manager. “I’ve kept my hand in, playing improv with WIT, which I love, but a script is a different kind of intensity and I’m loving that too! Especially playing Hedda. I’ve been drawn to her since I was 17.”

Directed by David Lawrence (A Renaissance Man, Henry V) and designed by Penny Angrik and Ulli Briese (2008 Chapman Tripp Award, Best Lighting Design for Metamophosis) the Wild Duck will use a symbolic set and physical performance styles to discover what traps Hedda in today's more liberal society.

15 April-2 May (no show Sun/Mon) BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington

book@bats.co.nz or 04 802 4175