Patricia Penn Anne Kemp (born 1944), better known simply as Penn Kemp, is a Canadian poet, novelist, playwright, and sound poet who lives in London, Ontario. Kemp has been publishing her writing since 1972 and was London's first poet laureate, serving from 2010 to 2013.

Early life and education

Kemp was born on August 4, 1944, in Strathroy, Ontario, to parents Anne Kemp and James "Jim" Kemp. She was raised in the nearby city of London. Her father was an advertising and publicity executive at London Life Insurance, painter, and war artist. Penn says she wrote her first poem when she was six years old.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and literature from the University of Western Ontario in 1966 and received certification as a teacher in 1968. serving from 2010 to 2013 and University of Western Ontario's Writer-in-Residence (2009–2010). Kemp runs Pendas Productions.

Personal life

Kemp's left London, Ontario after graduating from Western University. She returned in 2001 and her mother had a stroke. She now lives in London and considers it her home. Her husband, Gavin Stairs, developed vascular dementia and died in fall 2021.

Works

Theater

  • 'Homeward Bound (2015); The Spousal Song (2013). PlayWrights Cabaret, The Grand Theatre, London,
  • 'The Dream Life of Teresa Harris, Eldon House, London (2013)
  • 'Scenes from the Electric Folklore Machine, Aeolian Hall, London (2012)
  • 'Mrtvolka, with Anne Anglin, Daniela Sneppova, Harbourfront Studio Theatre, Toronto
  • 'The Space Between: A Transmorphous Journey, Wolf Performance Hall, London (2010)
  • 'Re-Visions: a sound opera, with Brenda McMorrow, Bill Gilliam, Aeolian Hall, London (2009)
  • 'What the Ear Might Hear, (2009); When the Heart Parts, Playwrights Cabaret (2007)
  • 'Communication Breakdown, with Chris Meloche, McManus Theatre, London (2008)
  • 'Re:Animating Animus: a sound opera, Aeolian Hall, London (2008)
  • 'Xtra Text/ure. Symposium, Playing the Gallery: McIntosh Gallery Western U, London (2007)
  • 'Darkness Visible: a sound opera, with Chris Meloche, Aeolian Hall, London (2006)
  • 'Trance Dance Form: sound opera, with Bill Gilliam, Jean Martin, Brick Works, Toronto (2006)
  • 'Vocal Braiding: an experiment in poetry and theatre (with Patricia Keeney, directed by Don Rubin, 2000.) Performed in Jaipur, India and for Indian television; York University
  • 'Symposium on Canadian Theatre at the University of Rajasthan (with Don Rubin, 2000)
  • 'Temporary Harmonies, The Music Gallery, Toronto; U. of Mumbai, India
  • 'What The Ear Hears Last (The Gathering); Eros Rising, 1978, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto
  • 'Angel Makers, Red Theatre, Toronto. Trance Dance Form, Harbourfront, Toronto (1976)
  • 'The Epic of Toad and Heron: a play. Toronto Island Clubhouse and ON schools, (1977–2012)
  • The Dream Life of Teresa Harris (2013)

Individual poems

  • "Simultaneous Translation" in
  • "The Dream Life of Teresa Harris" in

Recordings

  • On Our Own Spoke. Penn Kemp, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2000. (CD/CD-ROM)
  • Two Lips. Penn Kemp, Anne Anglin, and Susan McMaster, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2001. (CD)
  • Time Less Time. Penn Kemp, Darren Copeland, and Claude Gillard, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2001. (CD)
  • Souwesto Words: 25 poets in Southwestern Ontario. Includes recordings from Penn Kemp, John Tyndall, Molly Peacock, Emily Chung, Paul Langille, Sheila Martindale, Roy McDonald, Sadiqa Khan, Jan Figurski, Jody Trevail, Beryl Baigent, John B. Lee, Cornelia Hoogland, James Reaney, Colleen Thibaudeau, Michael Wilson, Aimee O'Beirn, Jason Dickson, Marianne Micros, Skot Deeming, Victor Elias, David J. Paul, April Bulmer, Julie Berry, Don Gutteridge, Ergo Books, 2002. (CD)

As editor

Other works

  • Text and introduction to In 2015, the League of Canadian Poets awarded Kemp the Sheri-D Wilson Golden Beret Award, which honoured her as a spoken-word poet.
  • Penn Kemp – Penn, poet/playwright/performer
  • Canadian Poetry Online – Penn Kemp: Biography
  • Penn Kemp, Poet Facebook page
  • Penn Kemp on Twitter
  • Penn Kemp works on Canadian Play Outlet
  • Mary McDonald collaborations with Penn Kemp

References