Frida Kahlo is one of Mexico's most famous artists and lived an extraordinary life.

Having suffered horrendous injuries after being knocked down by a lorry at the age of 17, she turned her hand to painting and went on to become a cult figure in her home country.

Her life is portrayed by Tirso Theatre and Footprint Project in a one-woman show at Croydon Clocktower a week on Thursday and actress Gael Le Cornec, who runs Footprint Project, explained a little about Kahlo.

"She had a strange yet exiting life at the same time," she says.

"When she was quite young she married Diego Rivera, the biggest Mexican artist of the time.

"Before that she had an accident when she was 17 and that changed her.

"She was stuck in bed for a year and that's when she started painting as she couldn't move.

"Sometimes tragedy brings something good.

"I knew a bit about her before but only the basics really.

"When I knew I had the part I started researching everything I could about her.

"I went to Mexico as I felt I needed to so I could understand her paintings, which she based around Mexican folk lore quite a lot."

The play, which is directed by Tirso Theatre's Luis Benkard, had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year and played two nights at the British Museum last week.

"It's biographical but it's not like most biographies which are linear," explains Le Cornec.

"It looks at the most important moments of her life, like a stream of consciousness.

"It's set on the Day of the Dead in Mexico and Frida comes back to her house and everything is covered in white blankets.

"Bit by bit she starts to uncover the props and remembers things that happened to her.

"It was really interesting performing it in a gallery and that's the first time we have done that.

"There were a lot of drawings and paintings by Mexican artists including Diego in the gallery and it went well and was sold out each night."

Frida Kahlo: Viva La Vida, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, February 11, 7.30pm, £7.50. Call 020 8253 1030 or visit croydonclocktower.org.uk.