THE past plays a major part in the life of Gabrielle Drake. Not only does she live in a medieval abbey in Shropshire with her husband artist Louis de Wit, a landscape and portrait painter, but she is steeped in the life and times of one of history's leading literary figures - Elizabeth Gaskell.

So much so, Gabrielle has put together a one-woman show Dear Scheherazade Elizabeth Gaskell, in her own words, which will play the Brewery Arts Centre's Women's Arts International Festival on Sunday (May 6, 4pm).

Gabrielle is a well-known face of stage and screen, an elegant actress who has trod the boards in lavish theatrical productions such as Noel Coward's drawing room comedy Present Laughter to TV roles, including Lieutenant Gay Ellis in UFO, Jill Hammond in The Brothers and motel manager Nicola Freeman in the Midlands-based soap opera Crossroads.

From London's West End to Kendal's Highgate, Gabrielle is one of the UK's most respected leading ladies and tells me that the Lakes is her favourite part of the country.

Gabrielle is keen to highlight the parallels between Mrs Gaskell's domestic life, and that of a modern mum: "She was the epitome of a working mother and used to sit writing at the dining room table surrounded by her children.

"She was also a prolific letter writer."

Elizabeth Gaskell was born in London in 1810, the daughter of a Unitarian minister, who after her mother's early death was raised by an aunt, who lived in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Her novels included Wives and Daughters, North and South and Cranford her biography of her friend Charlotte Bronte, which Gabrielle claims changed the way biographies were written, giving greater personal details.

Gabrielle's interest in Mrs Gaskell was sparked after her friend, playwright and director Richard Digby Day suggested she take a look at her work.

Gabrielle had read Mrs Gaskell's Cranford novel while at school and thought is was boring.

"I read Mary Barton and found it a rip-roaring yarn."

Gabrielle was hooked and started putting together a show based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novels, short stories and letters, displaying how the writer balanced a literary career with the responsibilities of being the wife of one of Manchester's leading churchmen, William Gaskell, at the time of tremendous social upheaval.

"She loved fireside chats with her friends and really enjoyed telling stories.

"On one hand she lived a conventional Victorian life as the wife of a vicar in an area of extreme poverty.

"On the other hand, unconventional, moving in literary circles with people such as Charles Dickens."

Gabrielle says it's a very intimate show with a simple set based on the Gaskells' dining room at the family home.

No doubt, a little bit of theatre history in the making.

Box office 01539-725133.