Ken is a performer, actor, producer of theatre and film. From Am Dram in the seventies and youth theatre leadership to national tours with Theatre sans Frontieres and composing for AMBER Films.

In time order below, a few memories:

Dry Rot – Fenwick Annual Drama 1979

A farce by John Chapman. Ken: ‘despite being a skinny young 24 year old was cast as the bookie Alfred Tubbe. The climax of his performance being the last line of the first half at the race course: ‘And they’re off!’ upon which his suit trousers fell to the floor’.

BIG AL Newcastle Youth Theatre 1985

The Snow Queen

Newcastle Junior Youth Theatre 1986

Ken made a number of whole head masks from steel wire suggesting animals whilst allowing the actors’ faces still to be seen.

The Matchgirls

Newcastle Junior Youth Theatre 1987

Written by Bill Owen (Compo in the Last of the Summer Wine) and Tony Russell. Ken: ‘This was, perhaps, the most successful and ambitious of the plays we produced, so much so it was reprised in the Autumn of the same year. We created a band with Vth and VIth form musicians who accompanied the whole musical’. It told the story of the Bryant and May strike (is this where the word comes from?) The working conditions in the match factory had caused great discontent: up to fourteen-hour workdays, poor pay (made far worse in 1888 by a poor harvest which caused hours to be drastically reduced) unjust fines, having no clean area to eat, and the severe health complications of working with allotropes of white phosphorus which caused phosphorus necrosis also known as phosphorimus chronicus or phossy jaw.

The Last Battle – Newcastle Junior Youth Theatre 1988

Sarah Kemp adapted the last of the Narnian tales and Ken wrote a number of songs sung by the cast, e.g. ‘In the Name of Aslan’.

La Pelota Mágica 2008 – 2010

Theatre sans Frontières

An enchanting tale from Argentina, performed in simple Spanish for 6 – 10 year olds, teachers, families and friends. Our first Spanish show in schools.

Brother and sister, Luis and Natalia, are playing in the foothills of the Andes. They see a beautiful, shimmering ball and chase after it. However, the ball belongs to the cold-eyed witch of the mountains who uses magic to trap Natalia. Seeking help from the wise old man Atahualpa and el Cóndor, the most noble bird of the Andes, can Luis rescue Natalia in time?

Théâtre Sans Frontières brought its flair for engaging children in different languages and cultures to this Argentinian folktale, with a combination of puppets, actors and vibrant Andean inspired live music.

Directors: Sarah Kemp & John Cobb
Set & Costume Design: Andrew Stephenson
Lighting Designer: Alexandra Anzemberger
Composer: Ken Patterson
Puppets: Alison McGowan

2008 Crew
Cast:
Angel Alguacil
Paddy Burton
Mariae Smiarowska

Stage Manager: Craig Davidson
Assitant Stage Manager, Musician and Puppeteer: Jack Burton

The show toured to nine venues, as well as to schools in Hexham, Sheffield, Galashiels and Dorset.

2010 Crew
Cast:
Ángel Alguacil
Xela Marx
Paddy Burton
Stage Manager: Shona Wright
Assistant Stage Manager, Musician and Puppeteer: Jack Burton

The show toured to 11 venues, as well as to schools in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Westbury, Northampton, Luton and Bristol

Le Tour de France 2001 Theatre sans Frontières

A chase across France to hunt down Le Fantôme Cycliste, exploring its language and culture through a thrilling and fast-paced adventure story about the world’s greatest cycle race. Ken: ‘We filmed action in France in Paris, Noyon, La Rochelle, on the slopes of Chamonix, in a chateau in Fontainebleau, and in Villejesus. I got to unicycle up to the Notre Dame Cathedral. We wore the same costumes on stage and combined live and large screen video action to tell the narrative. We added extra film for a digital classroom resource returning after fifteen years to the same locations. All except the Chamonix scenes which was shot above Ireshopeburn in Weardale in snow. I wore a singlet and cycle shorts for hours in the freezing cold’.

Traditional and original live music and French songs provided the ‘soundtrack’ to this freewheeling extravaganza. Devised and scripted by John Cobb, Sarah Kemp and Ken, Le Tour de France was orginally researched and piloted in 2001 with staff and pupils from the North East.

Directorial Assitance: Joff Chafer
Set & Costume Design: Susie Troup
Composer: Ken Patterson
Lighting Design: Ritchie Orr
Production Manager: Shona Wright
Assistant Stage Manager: Andrew Turnbull

Cast:
Jack: John Cobb
Kent: Ken Patterson
Sarah: Sarah Kemp
Le Fantôme Cycliste: Andrew Turnbull (on stage), 
Ken Patterson/Duncan Cave (on screen)
Madame Blanc: Marie-Elizabeth Cornet

Le Tour de France toured to 11 venues across the UK in 2001

Around the World in 80 Minutes 2005/07 TSF

Performed in English with some simple French, Around The World In
80 Minutes, was a wonderful introduction to the French language and
Francophone countries around the world. First performed in 2005, 
it was toured again in 2007 to delighted audiences everywhere.

Ken: ‘a great experience – we got to travel to both Cameroon and Tunisia in Africa to film in different locations. I spent far too long up a cacao tree in Cameroon clinging to a branch. We also filmed in Luxembourg, Brussels, Brugges, and a chateau in Belgium. Sadly, the plot meant that I didn’t get to go to Montreal…….’

Whizzing around the globe, the Sans Frontières detective agency took the audience on an action packed adventure. It was a race against time through jungles, deserts and ice palaces as they chased their arch enemy – the dastardly Fantôme Cycliste. Joining in with the songs and experiencing a wealth of cultures the audience went on a fun-filled journey featuring original music, interactive video and some simple French. Bon Voyage!

A free education pack, including educational materials and all the songs, was available on CD Rom to all groups booking ten or more tickets for the show.

Director: Sarah Kemp
Video Director: John Cobb
Filming: Morgan 
Original Music/ Musical Arrangements: Ken Patterson
Sound Operator: Eleanor Cobb
Set Designer: Andrew Stephenson
Costume Designer: Susie Troup
Lighting Design: Drummond Orr
Technical Stage Managers: Craig Davidson, Shona Wright

Cast:
Jack: John Cobb
Kent: Ken Patterson
Sarah: Rebecca Jameson (on stage) Sarah Kemp (on screen)
Fantôme Cycliste: Andrew Turnbull
Charles van Horst: Andrew Turnbull

Story and script created by John Cobb, Sarah Kemp and Ken Patterson with assistance from Andrew Turnbull and Rebecca Jameson.

Around the World in 80 Minutes 2005/2007 toured to 31 venues.

Les Contes Dorés 2008 /10 TSF

GOLDEN TALES

Contes Dorés is a theatrical production which combines two wonderfully
magical fairy tales from the French-speaking world: ‘Petit Jean et le
Cheval Blanc’, from Canada, is about a boy and the witch who wants to
imprison him; ‘Les Trois Pommes Dorées’, from France, tells of a sick
princess who must eat three golden apples to get well.

Ken wrote a few songs for the show: ‘Les pommes, les pommes, les pommes……. d’orés!‘

‘It will have you rolling about screeching with delight and willingly calling out in French.’ Teacher, West Sussex 

‘I thought the plays were brilliant and were well acted. I had a great time and would like to see some more plays again.’ 
Pupil, St Mary’s School, Colchester 

‘An enthralling, highly educational performance. The visual effects were tremendous.’ Teacher, Northumberland 

2010 summer crew:
Geraldine Cottalorda/Mariae Smiarowska
Rebecca Jamieson/Emily Grant
Jack Burton /John Cobb/Paddy Burton

Les Adventures de Lapin 2015 / 2023, TSF

THE ADVENTURES OF RABBIT

A sunny, joyful, Caribbean tale for primary school children.
Touring UK schools 12th June -7th July 2023

‘Originally developed with children from South Shields schools in the Custom’s House with designer Alison Ashton, this show went on to  become one of TSF’s most popular touring shows, with excellent hummable songs from Ken Patterson – J’adore les bananas  and Ile du Paradis.
It featured a number of indigenous Caribbean tales based around the Trickster Lapin (Rabbit) and his mischievous antics. These stories had travelled from Africa during the time of the slave trade’.
Actors  from various versions of the show included:
Deb Pugh (Ad Infinitum theatre), Emily Grant, Jack Burton, Benjamin Alonso, Katy Tranter, Kevin James, Aron de Casemaker, Paddy Burton and our current team- seen here- Mark Hanley, Rocio Galan, Kit Kopieske, and Olo Olan.

Directors: Sarah Kemp and John Cobb

collector of tears – 2014

 is a passionate and powerful new play from theatre company gobscure.

The national tour of Sean Burn’s latest play comes to the Marlborough in November.

Directed by acclaimed director Jackie Fielding, with Madeleine MacMahon playing Tanya Sealt, accompanied by original music composed and performed live by Ken Patterson. Set designer Alison Ashton has teamed up with Effie Burns who has created the collection of glass tear-bottles for Tanya’s story and lighting is by James Henshaw.

Collector of tears is a poetic and epic love story spanning over four hundred years, told by Tanya Sealt, a young woman who cannot age until she has cried. Instead Sunderland-born Tanya collects tears from the people she encounters during moments of radical English history, passionately learning to fight for human rights and understanding her own sexuality forged in relationships with men and women across time.

Wherever she goes she carries with her an amazing collection of glass tear-bottles, through which she reveals each unique and moving story of the tears’ owners. Ultimately this hauntingly lyrical play is about humanity, human rights and the universality of love and specifically reaches out to LGBT communities.

Heaven Eyes 2014

A play adapted from the novel Heaven Eyes by David Almond. 
Adapted for the stage by internationally acclaimed children’s author 
David Almond (Skellig, Song for Ella Grey).

Music and sound design by Ken: ‘I sampled all sorts of gloopy sounds for this sound track: the Black Middens mud revealing a spooky visitor from the past. It was a chance to go for melancholy and soundscapes….’

Almond’s eerie tale is an astonishing piece of writing The Guardian
Performed in English by a cast from the UK and Sweden and featuring 
original music and video. Suitable for ages 9+ years.
Recommended by the British Theatre Guide as one of the Best Family Shows in the North-East of 2014

Hey Piggy Piggy 2017 4 Corners & TSF

Touring in the North East 21 June – 7 July 2017, Newcastle, Alnwick Castle

A fun show for KS1 children with animation, live music and action. It explored the issues of fuel poverty in a child-friendly way.
About entitlement to health and a warm house to live in.

The show was filmed as well as on the road as a live show.

The Wolf keeps knocking at the door but it’s by counting their pennies, and
with their own wits and clever use of materials, that the Piggies get cosy in the end.
Free KS1 Package : The Hey Piggy Piggy show comes with:
New songs to sing
 A show followed by a workshop at a venue close to your school (this programme lasts for an hour)
· A follow–up video, song accompaniments and lyrics sheet
· A teachers’ resource with KS1 curricular links, resume and follow up ideas

Hey Piggy Piggy was especially commissioned and funded by the National Energy Action charity: www.NEA.org.uk
With script and songs by John Cobb, Sarah Kemp, Ken Patterson & Richard Scott
Cast included Eleanor Cobb, Joey  Holden, Jake Ashton-Nielsen
Design by Alison Ashton

The Golden Conch Shell TSF 2022

Ken’s role was as video editor in this research project, but he got to play Dad in a live theatre version worked up as research in 2022.

The Golden Conch Shell is a story for our times, based on West African folklore blended with elements of Hans Christian Andersen. Serena and Billy are two siblings trying to find their voice in the contemporary world. Their adventures take them down to the very depths of the sea where they meet the sea goddess Mami Wata and her army of sharks. How will they use their talents and ingenuity to escape Mami Wata’s clutches and return home safely? The film is suitable for children aged 5-10 years and their families and features shadow puppetry and original music.

The Golden Conch Shell premiered in English at Forum Cinema Hexham and in August 2020 and in French at the Montreal International Children’s Film Festival (FIFEM) in March 2021.

Wrapped up for Christmas?

Storytellers Band Mummers 2022 /2023

Ken wrote this mummers play script with traditional characters: The Knight, The Medic, Father Christmas, Jack Frost and a new baddie: Baron Big Oil. He has upset the balance between The Sun Queen and Jack Frost and it’s only the power of ceilidh dance and song bringing people together that finally wins over the might of Big Oil. Performed at Star and Shadow Cinema and the Morpeth Gathering…… it is set to be an annual event.