New Zealand's legendary aviatrix Jean Batten remains something of a mystery despite her many well-documented achievements in the air. She made the first-ever solo flight from England to New Zealand, setting a record that stood for 44 years. She was fiercely private, yet one of the most famous Kiwis of her time - brave but not reckless, and forging a new path for women while still being patronised. Lynn Freeman talks to Auckland scriptwriter Phil Ormsby and actress Alex Ellis who are portraying her on stage, calling it a celebration of an independent woman who pursued her ambition with unqualified success.
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