Biographical Statement
Kathryn Popham
Kathryn Popham is a renowned theatre artist living in Toronto, Ontario. Her family oriented shows have played to audiences across Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain.
Kathryn was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, where she began elocution lessons at the age of seven. She soon became a popular fixture at the annual Speech Arts Festival, reciting poetry and presenting dramatic monologues. At the age of sixteen she won the Audrey Johnson Award for most promising performer, a bursary for senior competitors in the festival. She was awarded an A.T.C.L. degree in Speech and Drama from the Trinity College of London at the age of eighteen, the youngest that one can receive an Associate degree. Kathryn graduated from the Professional Actor Training Program at Victoria’s Camosun College in 1977.
As a founding member of Kaleidoscope Theatre in Victoria, Kathryn performed in original works for young audiences, and toured British Columbia with the now famous ensemble. Shortly after moving to Toronto, she was hired by the prestigious Young Peoples Theatre, and toured throughout Ontario. She co-founded Erewhon Theatre with well known performance artist Santo Cervello. Prologue to the Performing Arts acted as an agent for the innovative shows, the company quickly became one of the most popular touring children’s theatres in Canada.
Kathryn specializes in solo performances that incorporate distinctive character voices with physical theatre. Some of her one woman shows include Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Charlotte’s Web, The Wind in the Willows, The Velveteen Rabbit and most recently, The Wizard of Oz. She has performed at the Edinburgh Festival, the Regina Children’s Festival, for Command Performances in Ogdensburg, New York, and in thousands of locations all over the map.
As an educational artist, Kathryn has extensive experience working with children. Audiences marvel at her ability to draw performances out of inexperienced youngsters. As an arts advocate, Kathryn exemplifies the importance of cultural enrichment for children of all ages.
Kathryn played the principal role of Brer Fox in the 13 part television series, Brer Rabbit Stories. Other television credits include CBC’s The Great Detective and A Gift to Last, and CTV’s National Attitude Test.
