New Harlem Productions
In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in June 2025.
Kern Albert and Donna-Michelle St. Bernard are the creative forces behind New Harlem Productions, a Toronto-based theatre company known for socially conscious, innovative work.
During their stay they were working on their upcoming play Panoptikon, which illuminates experiences of incarceration. Based on first hand accounts, Panoptikon’s composition comprises monologue, spoken word and hip hop in a series of snapshots about isolation, aggression, softness and sandwiches.
Kern Albert
Originally from Trinidad, Kern Albert comes to Toronto by way of London, England and Brisbane, Australia where he spent time both among the savages, and the native Aboriginals.
He has lent his world-worn gaze to the stage as an actor in The Dutchman (lemonTree), Prison Skin (New Harlem). As a playwright his works include The Last Pig in Afghanistan and Roominhouse (with DM St. Bernard).
As a vocalist, Kern ran with hip hop ensemble The Dope Poet Society for a decade, followed by a stint with duo, Seeds Sown. He has been known to operate lights, build sets and offer dramaturgy.
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard aka Belladonna the Blest is an emcee, playwright and agitator. Her main body of work is the 54ology: The First Stone, Give It Up, The Smell of Horses, Diggers, Cake, Sound of the Beast, A Man A Fish, Dark Love, Roominhouse, Salome’s Clothes and Gas Girls.
She collaborated on the creation of The Only Good Indian and They Say He Fell (Pandemic Theatre), Forbidden and Oubliette (Tapestry Opera), The House You Build (Gordon Tootoosis Nekaniwin Theatre) and 501: Toronto in Transit (Theatre Passe Muraille). DM also contributes to the creative ecology as a director, dramaturge and administrator.