Kim Carpenter

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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]

Contents

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]

Awards

Member The Order of Australia (AM)
Lifetime Achievement Award Australian Production Designers Guild
2 Helpmann Awards
3 Australian Writers' Guild Awards
4 Sydney Theatre Awards 2011, 2012
2 Green Room Awards
Centenary Medal Australia
Arts Hub Award

Study Awards

Australian Artist-in-Residence Atelier Artistique International de Seguret, France
Australia Council Travel Grant New York to work with Robert Wilson
Loudon Sainthill Scholarship Europe
Churchill Fellowship (puppetry) to visit Japan, France, Holland & UK

Independent Works

YearProductionRolePartnerships
1970Death of a SalesmanDesignerThe Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW Drama Foundation
1970The Breasts of TiresiasDesigner University of Sydney, Footbridge Theatre
1970This Story of YoursDesigner The Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW
1973LysistrataDesignerThe Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW Drama Foundation
1973The American DreamDesignerQ Theatre Co
1974Oh, What a Lovely War!DesignerRusden State College
1974TimeDirectorRusden State College
1978Bon-Bons and Roses for DollyDesignerPlaybox
1983Beyond MozambiqueDesignerFestival of Sydney
1983Rapunzel in SuburbiaAdaptor, Director, DesignerMarionette Theatre
1985The Little Mermaid (Boyd)Director, DesignerThe Australian Opera
1986An Imaginary LifeAdaptor, Director, DesignerBelvoir
1986Fantastic ToysDesignerAustralian Dance Theatre
1987AwayDesignerState Theatre Co of SA
1988A Moon Between Two HousesDesignerKite Theatre Co, QLD Tour
1988Sun-HuntersDirector, DesignerDancenorth, Festival of Sydney, Australian Bicentennial Authority
1988The PathfinderDirectorWorld Expo on Stage
1991Earthly ParadiseDirector, DesignerMalthouse
1995Last Days Of A Famous MimeDevisor, Director, DesignerSYDNEY STORIES Sydney Theatre Co, Sydney Festival
1996Lift off LiveDesignerAustralian Children's Television Foundation, Sydney Festival, national tour
2020 The Happy Prince Ballet Adaptor, DesignerQueensland Symphony Orchestra, The Australian Ballet
2024IncredibiliaAdaptor, Director, DesignerRiverside Theatres, State Library of NSW

For The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)

YearProductionRolePartnerships
1968Dark of the MoonDesigner Jane Street Theatre
1968Right You Are (If You Think So)Stage Manager University of NSW, Old Tote Theatre (1963-1969)
1968The MatchmakerDesignerThe ABC Concert Department, Elizabethan Theatre Trust, UNSW
1969Lock Up Your DaughtersDesigner
1969RootedDesignerThe Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW Drama Foundation
1969Spurt of BloodDirector Jane Street Theatre
1969The Rise and Fall of Boronia AvenueDesignerThe Old Tote Theatre Co, UNSW, UNSW Drama Foundation
1979The Caucasian Chalk CircleDesignerJane Street Co, Sydney Theatre Co, Sydney Opera House Trust
1988VeneerDirectorThe Adelaide Festival of Arts
1988Veneer 2Director

For The Melbourne Theatre Company

YearProductionRolePartnerships
1972Danton's DeathDesignerElizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne
1972Father Dear, Come Over HereDesignerElizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne
1972The Chocolate FrogDesignerElizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne
1972The Old Familiar JuiceDesignerElizabethan Theatre Trust, The University of Melbourne
1973Jugglers ThreeDesignerCanberra Melbourne & Sydney
1978Just Between OurselvesDesignerMelbourne
1978Richard IIIDesignerThe University of Melbourne
1978The Beaux' StratagemDesignerThe University of Melbourne
1978The Resistible Rise of Arturo UiDesignerThe University of Melbourne
1982Crimes of the HeartDesignerThe University of Melbourne
1983GullsDesignerThe University of Melbourne
1983SliceDevisor, Director, DesignerThe University of Melbourne
1995BlabbermouthDesignerArena Theatre Co
1993 & 1995Two Weeks with the QueenDesignerSydney Theatre Co & tour

For Nimrod Theatre

YearProductionRolePartnerships
1974How Does Your Garden Grow?Designer
1975You Want It Don't You Billy?Designer
1976All OverDesigner
1977Much Ado About NothingDesigner
1977Twelfth NightDesigner
1979On Our SelectionDesignerFestival of Sydney
1979The Life of GalileoDesigner
1980The House of the Deaf ManDesigner
1980The OresteiaDesigner
1980VolponeDesigner
1981Three SistersDesigner
1984SalonikaDesigner
1985A Midsummer Night's DreamDirector, Designer
1976 & 1977TravestiesDesigner
1981 & 1983SliceDevisor, Director, DesignerMelbourne Theatre Co

For Theatre of Image


YearProductionRolePartnerships
1988The Sky WizardDevisor, Director, DesignerWorld Expo on Stage
1989Colours of DesireDevisor, Director, DesignerArt Gallery of NSW
1989HelloDevisor, Director, DesignerSydney Theatre Co
1990Swimming in Light... The world of Lloyd ReesDevisor, Director, DesignerMelbourne Theatre Co, National Gallery of Australia, Caracas International Theatre Festival, Seymour Centre Sydney
1990Wanted PicturesDevisor, Director, DesignerArt Gallery of NSW, Sydney Biennale
1992The Last StopDevisor, Director, DesignerArt Gallery of NSW
1994Carnival of the AnimalsDevisor, Director, DesignerSydney Theatre Co
1994White HeatDevisor, Director, DesignerThe Art Gallery of NSW
1995Pierrot and ColumbineAdaptor, Director, DesignerSydney Theatre Co
1997Vivaldi's Ring Of MysteryDevisor, Director, DesignerThe Sydney Symphony Orchestra at Sydney Opera House
1999Exotic PleasuresDevisor, Director, DesignerSydney
2000Grandma's ShoesDirector, DesignerOpera Australia
2001The Gypsy BoyDevisor, Director, DesignerSydney
2002Mad Bad and SpookyDirector, DesignerSydney Festival
2004Tales from the Arabian NightsDesignerSydney and tour
2005Stella and the Moon ManDirector, DesignerAustralian Youth Orchestra, , Sydney Theatre Co
2007Lulie the IcebergDirector, DesignerKageboushi Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Co
2008Pixel and Friends ... the colour showDevisor, Director, DesignerPowerhouse Museum
2011Snow On MarsCreator, DesignerSydney Festival
2019Brett & Wendy... A Love Story Bound by Art [17] Creator, Director, Designer,WriterRiverside Theatres, Sydney Festival
1991 & 1999Hansel and Gretel...a tale of our timesDirector, DesignerBelvoir & Sydney Theatre Co
1992, 1993, 2003, 2008The Happy PrinceDirector, Designer Sydney Theatre Company, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Seymour Centre, Sydney Festival, Awesome Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, National Tours
1997, 1998, 2001Jake And Pete…A Roadstory For CatsSydney and tour
2002 & 2003Robinson CrusoeAdaptor, Director, DesignerSydney Theatre Co, Windmill Performing Arts & tour
2005 & 2006Go Pinocchio!Director, DesignerSydney & Regional Tour
2010 & 2015Little Beauty [18] [19] Devisor, Director, DesignerNational Portrait Gallery
2011 & 2013The Book of EverythingDesigner The New Victory, Melbourne Theatre Company, Belvoir
2014 & 2015Monkey...Journey To The West [20] Creator, DesignerAustralian International Arts Festivals - tour

International Tours

YearProductionRolePartnerships
1973 Dido & Aeneas / Edward John EyreDesignerUNSW Opera, London & Aberdeen
1990Swimming in Light... The world of Lloyd Rees Devisor, Director, DesignerCaracas Theatre Festival Venezuela
1992 Hansel and Gretel...a tale of our timesDirector, DesignerAotea Centre New Zealand
1995 Two Weeks with the Queen DesignerSydney Theatre Co, Johannesburg
2001Jake And Pete…A Roadstory For CatsDirector, Designer Manitoba Theatre for Young People
2002 The Happy Prince Director, Writer Manitoba Theatre for Young People
2012 The Book of Everything DesignerNew Victory Theater New York City

Solo Exhibitions

2024A Midsummer Night's Dream Maunsell Wickes Gallery Sydney
2022WILDE: Life and Fantasy Maunsell Wickes Gallery Sydney
2020The Happy Prince ARO Gallery Sydney
2015Art For The Theatre The Depot Gallery Danks St Sydney
2007Page to Stage Lulie The Iceberg Japan Foundation Gallery
2004Pixel & Friends Powerhouse Museum
Two exhibitions Holdsworth Galleries, Sydney

Group Exhibitions

Wright Hephurn Gallery London
Quadrennial (2) Prague
Theatre Designs S. H. Ervin Gallery Sydney
British & Australian Theatre Design Adelaide Festival, National Tour, UK Tour
Australian Centenary of Federation designs for The Future Powerhouse Museum, Sydney permanent collection
Australian Curated Exhibit A.A. Bakhrushin Central State Theatre Museum, Moscow
Australian Designers Association Productions Sydney Opera House

References

  1. ↑ "Kim Carpenter: life after Theatre of Image". Limelight. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 Zeplin, Pamela (1995). Parsons, Philip (ed.). Companion to Theatre in Australia. Sydney: Currency Press. p. 128. ISBN   0868193577.
  3. ↑ "Creative visionary Kim Carpenter returns to NIDA". ABC News. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Mullin, Michael (1 January 1996). Design by Motley. Associated University Presse. ISBN   9780874135695.
  5. ↑ Meyrick, Julian (2002). See How It Runs: Nimrod and the New Wave. Sydney: Currency Press. p. 189. ISBN   0-86819-651-7.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Verghis, Sharon (20 June 2005). "Theatre is more than mere child's play". www.smh.com.au. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Low, Lenny Ann (9 September 2019). "Final curtain call for legendary theatre company". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "Belvoir Hit The Book of Everything for Adelaide | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Book of Everything Scores Rave Reviews in New York | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "The Happy Prince ballet may be jinxed, but the show goes on". Australian Financial Review. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "★★★☆☆ The Happy Prince (The Australian Ballet)". Limelight. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  13. ↑ Ballet, The Australian. "The Happy Prince | The Australian Ballet". australianballet.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Kim David Carpenter". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Pyrmont theatre company owner appointed member of Order of Australia". DailyTelegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "AusStage". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Brett and Wendy … A Love Story Bound by Art | Stage Whispers". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Little Beauty". National Portrait Gallery calendar. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  19. ↑ Circle, Canberra Critics (3 July 2018). "Canberra Critics Circle: LITTLE BEAUTY". Canberra Critics Circle. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "Monkey … Journey to the West". Australian Arts Review. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
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