Kim Carpenter
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]| 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)
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]- ^ "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.
