Ken Duncum has been writing for theatre and television for nearly 20 years, and is recognised as one of New Zealand's leading playwrights. An all-time Top 30 list of New Zealand plays (as voted by theatre professionals) featured three of Ken's plays (Blue Sky Boys, Flipside and Horseplay), the highest tally of any playwright. Similarly, his work for television has won awards in New Zealand and been screened internationally.

Ken's plays include a loose trilogy looking at the impact of music on New Zealand - from 50s rock n roll vs Beatles-era British Invasion (Blue Sky Boys) to 70s Glam (John, Im Only Dancing) to Punk (Waterloo Sunset). He has also written plays about men lost at sea (Flipside), Polish saints (The Temptations Of St. Max), unsolved murders (Trick Of The Light), dark goings-on in smalltown New Zealand (Horseplay) and futuristic impressions of reviving the dead (Picture Perfect).

Cherish (published by VUP, 2004) won 'Best New New Zealand Play' at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards in 2003 - making it two in a row for Ken as his play Trick Of The Light won the same award the previous year.

Ken has also written extensively for television drama series such as Duggan and Cover Story (for which he won 'Best Script For Drama' at the NZ Film and Television Awards) as well as television comedy (receiving an award for 'Best Writer - Comedy' at the 2002 TV Awards for Willy Nilly).

In 2001 Ken was appointed Director of the MA Scriptwriting programme at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington - in which position he continues to foster emerging New Zealand scriptwriting talent.