Irene Wood was born in Ohakune, lived in Lower Hutt, and attended St Michael’s School and Sacred Heart College. She first played with the Hutt Repertory as Peter in Peter Pan, and participated in Victoria University Drama Club revue work while studying for her BA. degree. She made her first professional appearance in a Wellington Downstage Theatre revue - and appeared with the New Zealand Theatre Company’s drama quartet, produced by Dick Campion.
On her return from the schools’ tour with the NZTC Quartet she played another season with Downstage and then moved to Auckland where she has worked in radio drama and general TV work for the NZBC.
Irene is married to Don Hutchings, an Auckland actor and publishers' representative who shares her interest in the theatre and TV. He is at the moment appearing in AKTV2's On Camera. Last year Irene was teaching speech and drama in a private school in Auckland but still found time to appear in the NZBC-TV Workshop play, Slipknot, and as well as being part of the Button On Button Off! team, she is to play the part of Tweeny with the newly-established Mercury Theatre in Auckland.
Irene was interviewed on National Radio:
Her work on kiwi tv screens includes: