He was educated at the Hutchins School and the University of Tasmania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science in 1966, and an Honours degree in History in 1972.
He worked in Canada from 1977 to 1983, including as Artistic Director of the Vancouver Playhouse for three years from 1978 to 1981[1] where he collaborated with Tennessee Williams on productions of Williams' later plays The Red Devil Battery Sign and The Notebook of Trigorin.
In 1983 Hodgman relocated to Australia with actress Pamela Rabe[2] and became Dean of the School of Drama at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, establishing more orthodox acting training than under his predecessor Peter Oyston.
[3][4] He has since directed plays, operas, musicals and television in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan.
Hodgman was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours "significant service to the performing arts as a director".