Spotlight on Art – Curiosity and Craft with Ken the Actor

This week’s Spotlight on Art on Soar Sound features a lively and thoughtful conversation with Ken Ogborn—better known in creative circles as “Ken the Actor.” Hosted by John Coster and Rob Watson, the discussion is anything but conventional. Rather than a list of credits or a run-through of career highlights, this episode is a window into how one actor lives with—and through—curiosity.

Ken doesn’t see acting as just performance. For him, it’s a continuous practice of observation, engagement, and emotional translation. What stands out in this conversation is the way Ken talks about people—not as characters to imitate, but as complex individuals to understand. Whether it’s a patient during his time as a clerk, a customer in his marketing years, or a fictional persona on stage, Ken approaches each with the same intention: to learn, to connect, and to reflect something back.

One of the most striking aspects of Ken’s outlook is his insistence that acting is built on reliability and generosity. He describes the priorities of a working actor not in terms of talent alone, but in terms of turning up on time, being easy to work with, and bringing a consistent, open energy to collaborative work. Talent, he argues, is third in line—important, yes, but nothing without professionalism and empathy.

The episode also explores the practical realities of being a freelance creative. Ken shares his strategy for maintaining a long-term pipeline of work, often requiring many interactions before a role materialises. He’s candid about the uncertainties of the profession, but sees his own openness to people and ideas as his most valuable resource. When the phone rings with a last-minute casting call, it’s often because someone remembers the enthusiasm, dependability, and depth that “Ken the Actor” brings to the table.

In discussing training, performance, and the pressure to stand out in a competitive field, Ken reminds us that authenticity is more than a buzzword—it’s a commitment to doing the internal work. Drawing on traditions like Stanislavski’s “magic if,” he speaks about inhabiting the memory and mindset of a character, using imagination as a bridge to lived experience. It’s not method acting for the sake of intensity—it’s about being believable because you’ve built the inner life of the person you’re portraying.

Finally, the conversation turns to the wider cultural and economic context. Ken highlights the constraints placed on regional arts by inadequate funding, and the resulting risk-averse behaviour among producers. He makes the case that without space to fail—or even to experiment—the sector struggles to renew itself or discover new voices. His call is not just for more opportunities for actors, but for a cultural shift in how we value the arts and the people who make them.

This episode is more than a profile—it’s a generous sharing of lessons learned and insights gathered. Ken’s story is that of a practitioner who doesn’t wait for permission to be creative. He practices curiosity, cultivates his networks, and brings humanity into every interaction—whether on stage, in a studio, or simply chatting with a stranger at a café.

Listen now to Spotlight on Art on Soar Sound and meet Ken the Actor—a storyteller who reminds us that the arts thrive not on certainty or status, but on sincerity, curiosity, and connection.