Owing to its homosexual themes and perceived decadence, reviews were sometimes hostile, but it was widely considered a theatrical and sensory sensation, and it toured globally for many years.

[15][16] Its extraordinary dream-like opening scene of prisoners masturbating in their cells, while the silhouette of a beautiful male angel walked slowly across the stage, his wings reaching almost to the top of the proscenium, established the tone.

[25] Bush later wrote the song "Moving", which appeared on her debut album The Kick Inside, as a tribute to Kemp.

[27] Kemp's film roles include a supporting role in the Kate Bush short film The Line, the Cross & the Curve (1994),[22] a dancer and cabaret performer in Derek Jarman's Sebastiane[28] (1976) and Jubilee (1977)[28] respectively, a pantomime dame in Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine (1998)[29] and the pub landlord Alder MacGregor in Anthony Shaffer's The Wicker Man (1973).

[31][32] In the seasons from 2005 to 2012 he plays the role of the fairy Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty of the Italian company Balletto del Sud with the Fredy Franzutti's choreography.

The collaboration with the company and with Franzutti also continues with the interpretation of the magician Kašej in The Firebird in the seasons from 2007 to 2010, the shows have been repeated in several Italian tours.

[36] David Haughton, his closest friend and collaborator for 45 years, said Kemp had remained busy and active right until the end, saying "he suddenly said he felt ill, and a minute and a half later he was gone.