Karin Mainwaring grew up in South Australia, studied acting at WAAPA and graduated in 1985. In an interview with Helen Covernton, Karin described herself as a 'theatre person', having worked in most areas of theatre work including stints as usher, actor and stage manager.' (Advertiser, 26 May 1990 p 12).
Mainwaring became the first Australian playwright to have work produced by the Comedie Francaise, Paris when The Rain Dancers was produced at Theatre du Vieux Colombier, April 2001.
