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]
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]
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 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]
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] | Co-writer/Designer | The New Victory, Melbourne Theatre Company, Belvoir |
2011 | Snow On Mars[22][23] | 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 |