Kim Carpenter
Kim David Carpenter 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.
Early life
Carpenter was born in Newcastle, New South Wales in 1950. He moved to Sydney as a teenager to train as a painter. He studied production at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1968 and 1969. He also studied at Motley Theatre Design Course in London in 1971.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.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. In September 2019 he announced the closure of the company.
His work includes The Book of Everything 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.
In 2019 he adapted and designed The Happy Prince as a ballet for The Australian Ballet. It premiered at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre In February 2019
Carpenter was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for significant service to the performing arts.
Carpenter has devised, directed or designed over 100 productions for theatre, opera, dance, physical theatre, ballet and puppetry.
Awards
Study Awards
Independent Works
For The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
For The Melbourne Theatre Company
For Nimrod Theatre
For Theatre of Image
| 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 | Melbourne Theatre Co, National Gallery of Australia, Caracas International Theatre Festival, Seymour Centre Sydney |
| 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 | 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 | Sydney Theatre Company, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Seymour Centre, Sydney Festival, Awesome Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, National Tours |
| 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 | The New Victory, Melbourne Theatre Company, Belvoir |
| 2014 & 2015 | Monkey...Journey To The West | Creator, Designer | Australian International Arts Festivals - tour |