Bill Constable

William Henry Archibald Constable was a leading Australian film and stage designer, painter, cartoonist, printmaker and illustrator. Born in Bendigo, where he received training in water color painting from Meta Townsend, he was originally an apprentice electrician at the Jolimont Workshops. In 1926 he was laid off from the position and began study at the National Gallery of Victoria School and the Saint Martin's School of Art in London, where he was involved with the most advanced experimental theatres in England set his passion for life. William Henry Archibald Constable was raised with two younger brothers in the family of the Reverend Archibald Henry Constable, rector of St. John's Church of England. The designer was known for his illustrations, drawings, prints and paintings. On his return to Australia in 1930-s, Constable worked on several commercial design projects, and was noticed after his very first theatrical commission in 1933: the cubist stage decorations for the Gregan McMahon Players’ production of Bridie's Jonah and the Whale at the Garrick in South Melbourne. The play was directed by Alec Coppel.