Kim Carpenter's Theatre of Image - Australia's premier childrens theatre company

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Writer Gillian Rubinstein
Director/Designer Kim Carpenter
Composer David Chesworth

The Gypsy Boy

Zazel is born to the travelling life with all its joys and sorrows and learns the traditions of Gypsy culture and the circus. He flees the dangers of the Old World with his baby daughter who he brings up in the bright sunlit world of Australia where she has a son - The Gypsy Boy.

Suitability

Young people aged 5-14 & families. Primary schools & lower secondary schools

Venue

A space, thrust stage, some proscenium arch, 200-800 seats.

Cast

7

Crew

2 - 3

"Entrancing, with Theatre of Image's customary inventiveness, clarity and flair."
- Sydney Morning Herald

Writer Richard Tulloch
Director/Designer Kim Carpenter
Composer David Chesworth

Stella and the moon man

When Stella's family moves from Narrangarra to the city, she suddenly finds she has no friends. In a dark room on the top floor of Stella's apartment block, lives a blind astronomer. Everybody says he's weird. He can't see the stars, but he spends all his life studying space. But Stella gets to know him. He sometimes needs her to be his eyes, and he teaches her that our greatest problems can be put into perspective by comparing them to the vast beauty of the Universe. .

Suitability

Young people aged 5-14 & families. Primary schools & lower secondary schools

Venue

A space, thrust stage, some proscenium arch, 200-800 seats.

Cast

6

Crew

2

"..displays a happy knack for treating children like grown-ups and making adults feel young "
- Sydney Morning Herald

Writer Donna Abela
Director Patrick Nolan
Designer Kim Carpenter
Composer Oonagh Sherrard

Tales from the Arabian Nights

Tales From The Arabian Nights tells the story of how the brave and beautiful Shaharzad each night weaves magical and tantalizing tales to save the kingdom and her life from the wrath of the vindictive King. She transforms the King's wrath into understanding and forgiveness through the power of her endlessly inventive stories of secret caves, gullible treasure hunters, wicked genies, fabulous beasts and enchanting princesses.

Suitability

Young people aged 5-14 & families. Primary schools & lower secondary schools

Venue

A space, thrust stage, some proscenium arch, 200-800 seats.

Cast

6

Crew

2

Written by Guus Kuijer
Adapted by Richard Tulloch
Directed by Neil Armfield
Designer - Kim Carpenter
Composer - Iain Grandage

The Book of Everything

Thomas is nine and he's started writing a book. His father says all important books are about God. Even so, Thomas writes down all the interesting things he sees that other people seem to ignore: tropical fish in the canal, frogs in the letterbox… He also writes his greatest wish: When I grow up, I’m going to be happy. Featuring Jesus, the startling Mrs Van Amersfoort and a beautiful girl with a leather leg, this is a magical story about a child learning to act when faced with fear and wrong. Guus Kuijer’s grabs your heart, challenges your mind & makes you laugh no matter how old you are.

Suitability

8-108 year olds! Upper primary/High school.

Venue

End-stage, proscenium arch

Cast

9

Crew

3

8/10 - It's wonderful, life-affirming theatre - take the kids.
- Sun-Herald.

Composer Graeme Koehne
Librettist Libby Hathorn based on her book of the same name
Director/Designer Kim Carpenter
Music Director Mark Summerbell

Grandma's Shoes

A musical adventure for children and families. A collaboration with Opera Australia, this is the first Australian opera for young people in 15 years. Grandma's Shoes featured a lush, humourous score with principal singers & orchestra from Opera Australia. A little girl steps into Grandma's Shoes and is taken on a fantastic journey through playful forests, starry nights and ancient landscapes in her quest to find her beloved Grandmother...the keeper of wonderful stories.

Suitability

Young people aged 5-14 & families. Primary schools & lower secondary schools

Venue

Proscenium arch, 400-1,000 seats with orchestra pit.

Cast

6- 10 singers
4 puppeteers

Crew

4

"These shoes are magical...a seamless mix of live and animated action on an enchanting set." - The Australian

Adapted by Gillian Rubinstein
Director/Designer Kim Carpenter
Composer Richard Vella

Robinson Crusoe

Adapted from Daniel Defoe's classic adventure story of 1719, Robinson Crusoe is an enthralling experience for children. A giant supernatural storm drags Robinson Crusoe from his sinking ship. The lone survivor of the shipwreck, he awakens the next morning - far away on a strange & deserted island. For 27 years he has no human company - until one Friday he rescues a prisoner. Friday - a wild child of nature - changes Crusoe's perception of the island into a rich adventure in paradise ...until a ship arrives.

Suitability

Young people aged 5-14 & families. Primary schools & lower
secondary schools. Physical dance-theatre with minimal text.

Venue

Proscenium arch, 200-800 seats

Cast

6

Crew

2

"Wonderful…will enchant children and adults… genuinely worthwhile for both."
- Sydney Morning Herald

Created by Kim Carpenter & Alyssa Rothwell
Director/Designer Kim Carpenter
Composer Peter Kennard
Choreographer Narelle Benjamin

Pixel and Friends - The Colour Show

Come on a playful and vivid journey - told through dance, live music and digital animation.

Join Pixel - a little girl who has lost her colour.  Sad and lost in space, she meets a boy called Line. Together they take us on an amazing tour of the colour spectrum to find Pixel’s colour and meet new friends - Contrast, Shape, Rhythm, Texture, Form, Light and Space. A joyful celebration of colour and the emotional power it plays in our lives.

Suitability

Young people aged 5-14 & families. Primary schools & lower
secondary schools. Physical dance-theatre with minimal text.

Venue

Proscenium arch, 200-800 seats

Cast

6

Crew

2

"Mesmerising... The audience were mesmerised by the dancing and entranced by the projected images” - Sydney Morning Herald