Kim David Carpenter AM is an Australian visual artist, theatre director, designer and devisor. For thirty years he was artistic director of his company, Kim Carpenter's Theatre of Image.[1]
Early life
Carpenter was born in Newcastle, New South Wales in 1950.[2] He moved to Sydney as a teenager to train as a painter.[3] He studied production at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1968 and 1969.[2] He also studied at Motley Theatre Design Course in London in 1971.[4]
Biography
During the 1970s, Carpenter designed for the Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney's Nimrod Theatre Company. He was, for a short period, co-Artistic Director of Nimrod along with John Bell and Neil Armfield in the early 1980s.[5]
In 1988, Carpenter established Theatre of Image as Sydney's first visual theatre company. Theatre of Image has developed into a leading Australian theatre company for children and families, with its productions having a distinctive visual style.[6][7] In September 2019 he announced the closure of the company.[8]
His work includes The Book of Everything[9] which he created with Neil Armfield for Theatre of Image and Belvoir. The production toured Australia and played a season in New York at the New Victory Theater.[10]
In 2019 he adapted and designed The Happy Prince[11] as a ballet for The Australian Ballet.[12] It premiered at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre In February 2019[13]
Carpenter was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for significant service to the performing arts.[14][15]
Carpenter has devised, directed or designed over 100 productions for theatre, opera, dance, physical theatre, ballet and puppetry.[16]
Independent Works
| Year | Production | Role | Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Death of a Salesman | Designer | The Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW Drama Foundation |
| 1970 | The Breasts of Tiresias | Designer | University of Sydney, Footbridge Theatre |
| 1970 | This Story of Yours | Designer | The Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW |
| 1973 | Lysistrata | Designer | The Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW Drama Foundation |
| 1973 | The American Dream | Designer | Q Theatre Co |
| 1974 | Oh, What a Lovely War! | Designer | Rusden State College |
| 1974 | Time | Director | Rusden State College |
| 1978 | Bon-Bons and Roses for Dolly | Designer | Playbox |
| 1983 | Beyond Mozambique | Designer | Festival of Sydney |
| 1983 | Rapunzel in Suburbia | Adaptor, Director, Designer | Marionette Theatre |
| 1985 | The Little Mermaid (Boyd) | Director, Designer | The Australian Opera |
| 1986 | An Imaginary Life | Adaptor, Director, Designer | Belvoir |
| 1986 | Fantastic Toys | Designer | Australian Dance Theatre |
| 1987 | Away | Designer | State Theatre Co of SA |
| 1988 | A Moon Between Two Houses | Designer | Kite Theatre Co, QLD Tour |
| 1988 | Sun-Hunters | Director, Designer | Dancenorth, Festival of Sydney, Australian Bicentennial Authority |
| 1988 | The Pathfinder | Director | World Expo on Stage |
| 1991 | Earthly Paradise | Director, Designer | Malthouse |
| 1995 | Last Days Of A Famous Mime | Devisor, Director, Designer | SYDNEY STORIES Sydney Theatre Co, Sydney Festival |
| 1996 | Lift off Live | Designer | Australian Children's Television Foundation, Sydney Festival, national tour |
| 2020 | The Happy Prince Ballet | Adaptor, Designer | Queensland Symphony Orchestra, The Australian Ballet |
| 2024 | Incredibilia | Adaptor, Director, Designer | Riverside Theatres, State Library of NSW |
For The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
| Year | Production | Role | Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Dark of the Moon | Designer | Jane Street Theatre |
| 1968 | Right You Are (If You Think So) | Stage Manager | University of NSW, Old Tote Theatre (1963-1969) |
| 1968 | The Matchmaker | Designer | The ABC Concert Department, Elizabethan Theatre Trust, UNSW |
| 1969 | Lock Up Your Daughters | Designer | |
| 1969 | Rooted | Designer | The Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW Drama Foundation |
| 1969 | Spurt of Blood | Director | Jane Street Theatre |
| 1969 | The Rise and Fall of Boronia Avenue | Designer | The Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW, UNSW Drama Foundation |
| 1979 | The Caucasian Chalk Circle | Designer | Jane Street Co, Sydney Theatre Co, Sydney Opera House Trust |
| 1988 | Veneer | Director | The Adelaide Festival of Arts |
| 1988 | Veneer 2 | Director |
For The Melbourne Theatre Company
| Year | Production | Role | Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Danton's Death | Designer | Elizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne |
| 1972 | Father Dear, Come Over Here | Designer | Elizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne |
| 1972 | The Chocolate Frog | Designer | Elizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne |
| 1972 | The Old Familiar Juice | Designer | Elizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne |
| 1973 | Jugglers Three | Designer | Canberra Melbourne & Sydney |
| 1978 | Just Between Ourselves | Designer | Melbourne |
| 1978 | Richard III | Designer | The University of Melbourne |
| 1978 | The Beaux' Stratagem | Designer | The University of Melbourne |
| 1978 | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui | Designer | The University of Melbourne |
| 1982 | Crimes of the Heart | Designer | The University of Melbourne |
| 1983 | Gulls | Designer | The University of Melbourne |
| 1983 | Slice | Devisor, Director, Designer | The University of Melbourne |
| 1995 | Blabbermouth | Designer | Arena Theatre Co |
| 1993 & 1995 | Two Weeks with the Queen | Designer | Sydney Theatre Co & tour |
For Nimrod Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | How Does Your Garden Grow? | Designer | |
| 1975 | You Want It Don't You Billy? | Designer | |
| 1976 | All Over | Designer | |
| 1977 | Much Ado About Nothing | Designer | |
| 1977 | Twelfth Night | Designer | |
| 1979 | On Our Selection | Designer | Festival of Sydney |
| 1979 | The Life of Galileo | Designer | |
| 1980 | The House of the Deaf Man | Designer | |
| 1980 | The Oresteia | Designer | |
| 1980 | Volpone | Designer | |
| 1981 | Three Sisters | Designer | |
| 1984 | Salonika | Designer | |
| 1985 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Director, Designer | |
| 1976 & 1977 | Travesties | Designer | |
| 1981 & 1983 | Slice | Devisor, Director, Designer | Melbourne Theatre Co |
For Theatre of Image
| Year | Production | Role | Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Brett And Wendy - A Love Story Bound By Art[17] | Creator/Director/Designer | Sydney Festival, Riverside Theatres |
| 2018, 2010 | Little Beauty[18][19] | Creator/Director Designer | National Portrait Gallery (Australia) |
| 2015 | Monkey...Journey To The West[20] | Creator/Director/Designer | Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Sydney Opera House, National Tour |
| 2010, 2012, 2013 | The Book of Everything[citation needed][21][22] | Co-writer/Designer | The New Victory, Melbourne Theatre Company, Belvoir |
| 2011 | Snow On Mars[23][24] | Concept/Designer | Seymour Centre |
| 1992,1993,1994,1998,2003,2008 | The Happy Prince | Concept/Director/Designer | Sydney Theatre Company, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Seymour Centre, Sydney Festival, Awesome Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, National Tours |
| Year | Production | Role | Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Sky Wizard | Devisor, Director, Designer | World Expo on Stage |
| 1989 | Colours of Desire | Devisor, Director, Designer | Art Gallery of NSW |
| 1989 | Hello | Devisor, Director, Designer | Sydney Theatre Co |
| 1990 | Swimming in Light... The world of Lloyd Rees | Devisor, Director, Designer | |
| 1990 | Wanted Pictures | Devisor, Director, Designer | Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Biennale |
| 1992 | The Last Stop | Devisor, Director, Designer | Art Gallery of NSW |
| 1994 | Carnival of the Animals | Devisor, Director, Designer | Sydney Theatre Co |
| 1994 | White Heat | Devisor, Director, Designer | The Art Gallery of NSW |
| 1995 | Pierrot and Columbine | Adaptor, Director, Designer | Sydney Theatre Co |
| 1997 | Vivaldi's Ring Of Mystery | Devisor, Director, Designer | The Sydney Symphony Orchestra at Sydney Opera House |
| 1999 | Exotic Pleasures | Devisor, Director, Designer | Sydney |
| 2000 | Grandma's Shoes | Director, Designer | Opera Australia |
| 2001 | The Gypsy Boy | Devisor, Director, Designer | Sydney |
| 2002 | Mad Bad and Spooky | Director, Designer | Sydney Festival |
| 2004 | Tales from the Arabian Nights | Designer | Sydney and tour |
| 2005 | Stella and the Moon Man | Director, Designer | Australian Youth Orchestra, , Sydney Theatre Co |
| 2007 | Lulie the Iceberg | Director, Designer | Kageboushi Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Co |
| 2008 | Pixel and Friends ... the colour show | Devisor, Director, Designer | Powerhouse Museum |
| 2011 | Snow On Mars | Creator, Designer | Sydney Festival |
| 2019 | Brett & Wendy... A Love Story Bound by Art[17] | Creator, Director, Designer,Writer | Riverside Theatres, Sydney Festival |
| 1991 & 1999 | Hansel and Gretel...a tale of our times | Director, Designer | Belvoir & Sydney Theatre Co |
| 1992, 1993, 2003, 2008 | The Happy Prince | Director, Designer | Festival of Perth, Sydney Theatre Co |
| 1997, 1998, 2001 | Jake And Pete…A Roadstory For Cats | Sydney and tour | |
| 2002 & 2003 | Robinson Crusoe | Adaptor, Director, Designer | Sydney Theatre Co, Windmill Performing Arts & tour |
| 2005 & 2006 | Go Pinocchio! | Director, Designer | Sydney & Regional Tour |
| 2010 & 2015 | Little Beauty | Devisor, Director, Designer | National Portrait Gallery |
| 2011 & 2013 | The Book of Everything | Designer | Belvoir & tour |
| 2014 & 2015 | Monkey ... Journey to the West | Creator, Designer | Australian International Arts Festivals - tour |
International Tours
| Year | Production | Role | Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Dido & Aeneas / Edward John Eyre | Designer | UNSW Opera, London & Aberdeen |
| 1990 | Swimming in Light... The world of Lloyd Rees | Devisor, Director, Designer | Caracas Theatre Festival Venezuela |
| 1992 | Hansel and Gretel...a tale of our times | Director, Designer | Aotea Centre New Zealand |
| 1995 | Two Weeks with the Queen | Designer | Sydney Theatre Co, Johannesburg |
| 2001 | Jake And Pete…A Roadstory For Cats | Director, Designer | Manitoba Theatre for Young People |
| 2002 | The Happy Prince | Director, Writer | Manitoba Theatre for Young People |
| 2012 | The Book of Everything | Designer | New Victory Theater New York City |
References
- ^ "Kim Carpenter: life after Theatre of Image". Limelight. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ a b Zeplin, Pamela (1995). Parsons, Philip (ed.). Companion to Theatre in Australia. Sydney: Currency Press. p. 128. ISBN 0868193577.
- ^ "Creative visionary Kim Carpenter returns to NIDA". ABC News. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ Mullin, Michael (1 January 1996). Design by Motley. Associated University Presse. ISBN 9780874135695.
- ^ Meyrick, Julian (2002). See How It Runs: Nimrod and the New Wave. Sydney: Currency Press. p. 189. ISBN 0-86819-651-7.
- ^ Kembrey, Melanie (10 April 2015). "Theatre of Image's Kim Carpenter displays body of work in new exhibition". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ Verghis, Sharon (20 June 2005). "Theatre is more than mere child's play". www.smh.com.au. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ Low, Lenny Ann (9 September 2019). "Final curtain call for legendary theatre company". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Belvoir Hit The Book of Everything for Adelaide | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "The Book of Everything Scores Rave Reviews in New York | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "The Happy Prince ballet may be jinxed, but the show goes on". Australian Financial Review. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "★★★☆☆ The Happy Prince (The Australian Ballet)". Limelight. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ Ballet, The Australian. "The Happy Prince | The Australian Ballet". australianballet.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Kim David Carpenter". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Pyrmont theatre company owner appointed member of Order of Australia". DailyTelegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "AusStage". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Brett and Wendy … A Love Story Bound by Art | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Little Beauty". National Portrait Gallery calendar. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ Circle, Canberra Critics (3 July 2018). "Canberra Critics Circle: LITTLE BEAUTY". Canberra Critics Circle. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ "Monkey … Journey to the West". Australian Arts Review. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "The Book of Everything Belvoir Sydney 2009". Belvoir St Theatre. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "AusStage". ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "Theatre of Image Premieres Snow on Mars | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ "Theatre review: Snow On Mars, Sydney Festival". Crikey. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
