Ken Christiansen

Birthday: 6 August 1971, Lancaster, England, UK

Ken began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992 aged 20, playing opposite Emily Watson in Max Stafford-Clark and Ian Dury's production of A JOVIAL CREW. He went on to play Mardian t ...Show More

Ken began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992 aged 20, playing opposite Emily Watson in Max Stafford-Clark and Ian Dury's production of A JOVIAL CREW. He went on to play Mardian the eunuch in John Caird's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, Sir Walter Ralegh in Peter Whelan's Christopher Marlowe play, THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT and then alongside Sara Kestelman and Barry Foster in MISHA'S PARTY, co-produced with the Moscow Arts Theatre. Subsequent theatre credits include Jonathan Kent's production of MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN with Diana Rigg (National Theatre), as Eric Birling in Stephen Daldry's landmark production of AN INSPECTOR CALLS (National Theatre/West End), Martin in FOOL FOR LOVE directed by Erica Whyman (English Touring Theatre), a UK/European tour of Mark Ravenhill's HANDBAG (Actors Touring Company), Victor in AN ABSOLUTE TURKEY (Sir Peter Hall Company in the West End), Philip Venables' shock-opera UNLEASHED and WHITE SOMETHING directed by Destiny Ekaragha (both at the Arcola Theatre). Recent credits include LORD OF THE FLIES (Regents Park) and Diane Samuels' PERSEPHONE directed by Thom Southerland (Rosemary Branch). Ken has appeared at the old Union Theatre for the past two Summers, last year in CLOSER TO HEAVEN (Pet Shop Boys/Jonathan Harvey), and previously as The Reciter in Michael Strassen's critically acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim's PACIFIC OVERTURES, he has just finished performing as Ray Say in the building's final production of THE RISE & FALL OF LITTLE VOICE directed by Alastair Knights. He just opened the new Union Theatre as Grahame Chandler in THE FIX for which he has been nominated for BEST MALE PERFORMANCE in the Off West End Awards. He also directed and developed many plays during his 7 years as Artistic Director of the award-winning Operating Theatre Company, including Rebecca Lenkiewicz's THE NIGHT SEASON which transferred to the National Theatre and won numerous awards including the Evening Standard Best New Play Award, and directing Simon Callow and Rula Lenska in SINGING!DANCING!ACTING! at Soho Theatre.Television work includes: Seasons 1 and 2 of KINGMAKERS (winner of 3 NAFCA awards, African Oscars), series regular in PICKING UP THE PIECES, Lucy Gannon's INSIDERS, Jerry Hopkins in CORONATION STREET, starring opposite Pam Ferris in the BBC2 film: MRS HARTLEY AND THE GROWTH CENTRE, THE HISTORY FILE: GERMANY (BAFTA winner), CRACKER directed by Tim Fywell, WHERE THE HEART IS, CASUALTY, HOLBY CITY, DREAM TEAM, PEAK PRACTICE, MIDSOMER MURDERS, HOLLYOAKS, DOCTORS, 9/11:VOICES FROM THE AIR, 50 WAYS TO KILL YOUR LOVER, FORTITUDE and THE BILL.His films include the 2014 BAFTA nominated THE SELFISH GIANT (directed by Clio Barnard), TREACLE (with Beryl Reid, Channel4/BAFTA winner), WAR BRIDE, FISH-EYE, FIRST LOVE, LAST DAY ON EARTH, GORKA, THE OBIT WOMAN, BUG, THE RESURRECTION, CABRÓN, EMPIRE and several films due for release including the features CHASING ROBERT BARKER, THE BLACK PRINCE with Jason Flemyng, SLAYERS, and the global, record-breaking indie-flick, BREATHE EASY. Radio: David Grieg's THE EVENTS (Young Vic/Radio4). Hide