ACTOR
Rogue Shakespeare® (aka Ryan J-W Smith) has been a professional actor since 1995 appearing in various stage, film and TV productions over the last 30 years.
Below, in reverse order, are some of the highlight stage productions of his career as an award-winning actor
2024
STAGE
LOVE LABOURS WON / ROMEO & JULIET IT AIN'T!
Smith produced, directed and performed in revival productions of 3 of his award-winning and critically-acclaimed plays, Love Labours Won, Romeo & Juliet it Ain't! (aka 'Sweet Love Adieu - version II') and MacDeth! with productions at the Brighton Open Air Theatre and the glorious open air Roman Theatre in St. Albans.
★★★★ "...in the Bards absence, Rogue Shakespeare steps into the frame with Love Labours Won and Sweet Love Adieu. Both very different in style and subjects covered, but pays huge tribute to the Bard's work, with an extremely modern twist... This is Shakespearean comedic hilarity for adults with lots of fun along the way." - Broadway Baby
The Open Air Roman Theatre in St. Albans, England
STAGE
MACDETH!
Smith's MacDeth!, in which he performed the title role, was an especially popular sell-out show, which garnered Ryan much praise from audiences and critics alike:
“Smith has actually rewritten MacBeth in his own outstanding verse… I really respected the adaptation and can honestly say I have never come across such a talented living poet-playwright as Ryan J-W Smith.” – St. Albans Times.
2016
In 2016, Smith directed and produced and starred in the world premieres of both his award-winning 5th verse play, MacDeth!, and his critically-acclaimed 6th verse play, Romeo & Juliet it Ain’t. Awards and Reviews for both below:
STAGE
MACDETH!
WINNER – Hollywood Fringe International Award 2016
WINNER – Encore! Producers' Award 2016
Nominated – Hollywood Fringe Comedy Award 2016
“SHOWS TO SEE – MACDETH!.. lighten up the classic study in evil with a touch of Monty Python” -
"Writer and director, Smith’s turn as MacDeth exhibits an obviously accomplished actor of impeccable comedic timing and presence, boldly leading his ensemble to the promised land – a full house and standing ovation.” -
“Fringe award-winner, Smith, no stranger to the words of the Bard, offers up an abbreviated version of the the Scottish Play that races along at lightning speed, peppered with comedic asides and modern references.” -
“WHAT TO SEE FOR SURE – MACDETH! – a wild comedy of errors” -
“The reinventions keep coming… from the iconoclastic British writer and poet, Ryan J-W Smith” -
“MACDETH! is outrageous, clever, political, disgusting, hilarious! This show is a must see! It’s brilliant… Loved it!” -
Ryan J-W Smith winning the Hollywood Fringe International Award for the 2nd year in a row, June 2016.
STAGE
ROMEO & JULIET IT AIN'T!
Nominated – Hollywood Fringe International Award 2016
“a non-stop, hilarious, irreverent (if not fully raunchy) parody… a loving tribute to the Bard of Avon, from Smith – a bard in his own right… GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!” -
“Shakespearean Satire is tricky, but this trouple pulls it off with elan, thanks to a sound script that seems like something Will might have WISHED he’d thought of himself.” - LA Theatre Critic and Author
“Smart, funny, bawdy, awesome! The creator of my personal favorite show from HFF 15 does it again – there is so much comedic brilliance in the writing and in the performances. My words fail me, Ryan J-W Smith’s never do. Go if you possibly can!” - Critic
“simply delightful. It’s one of the funniest stage plays I’ve seen.” - Theatre Critic
“The best show we have been to at the Fringe, and is sure to be a winner in whatever categories it is entered in. I highly recommend it, just wonderful!” - Theatre Critic
Smith as 'Sidney' in his ROMEO & JULIET IT AIN'T! - June 2016
2015
STAGE
LOVE LABOURS WON
In 2015, moving back into theatre from film, Smith directed, produced and performed in the critically-acclaimed US premiere of his Love Labours Won. This production won the highly coveted International Award and an Encore! Producers Award at the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Awards and reviews include:
WINNER – Hollywood Fringe International Award 2015
WINNER – Encore! Producers' Award 2015
"one of the most acclaimed plays ever to come out of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.” - Broadway World
“…a thrill hearing Smith’s verse, a reminder that the old forms still hold up under new hands. A good time, to be sure.” - Critic, Turnstyle News
Smith winning the Hollywood Fringe International Award 2015
2012
FILM
THE POET CURSED
In 2012, Smith's fifth short film, The Poet Cursed, starring, produced and directed by Smith and written by Smith in his unique rhyming verse, was selected for the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival, and was also an official selection at 7 other international film festivals.
The Poet Cursed (2012)
– Premiered in the Short Film Corner at the 65th Cannes Film Festival
– Official Selection 5th Siliguri International Short Film and Documentary Contest
– Official Selection 8th Athens International Short Film Festival
– Official Selection 16th Purbeck Short Film Festival
– Official Selection 2nd Healdsburg International Short Film Festival
– Official Selection 13th Melbourne Underground Film Festival
– Official Selection 7th Deep Fried Film Festival
– Official Selection 22nd DaKINO International Film Festival
2008
STAGE
NEW WORLD ORDER
In 2008, Smith starred in (and directed and produced) his 4th verse play – the politically daring one-man show, New World Order. The show premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was nominated for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award and received nothing but glowing 4 and 5 star reviews from critics. The show subsequently toured to venues in Los Angeles, and Australia, concluding at the renown Judith Wright Centre in Brisbane.
Awards and reviews include:
Gandhi Foundation Award
Nominated – Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award
★★★★★ “FLAWLESS” – Edinburgh Guide
★★★★★ “hard-hitting one-man epic” – One4Review
★★★★ “performed immaculately – it should be missed by no-one” – Fringe Review
★★★★ “Smith has written an incredible play here” – Three Weeks
★★★★ “sharply scripted” – British Theatre Guide
★★★★ “STUNNING” – The List Magazine
“Few performances I’ve seen have been as gripping, touching and perceptive as New World Order. Transitions between the three characters are so smooth it’s easy to forget there is only one person on stage. Adept use of physicality and vocal nuances mark each character and compliment the depth of the text. Suspending disbelief is an almost unconscious act from start to finish.” – writer for the Sydney Morning Herald
2006
STAGE
LOVE LABOURS WON
Smith directed, produced and performed in the world premiere of his award-winning 3rd verse play, Love Labours Won, for the entire duration of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006. Performed in the Debating Hall of the Guilded Balloon.
Awards and reviews include:
‘PICK OF THE FRINGE’ – 2006
★★★★★ ““the best Shakespearean comedy not written by Shakespeare – this is unmissable!” -
★★★★★ “Go see it and watch great theatre in action.” -
★★★★ “there are not many Fringe productions pulling the size of audience this is’” -
★★★★ “Smith is one to watch” -
★★★★ “a mesmerizing work from a young writer whose career we should follow very closely” -
★★★★ “This Shakespearean-style verse comedy is pacy and well performed” – One4Review
“The brilliant wit of Ryan J-W Smith” -
“brilliantly pacy, well-balanced and intriguing… bravo Ryan!” -
The original cast of the world premiere of Smith’s Love Labours Won, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2006
2003
STAGE
SWEET LOVE ADIEU
In 2003, on the basis of his success in 2001 (see below), Smith was granted an Arts Council Award to produce, direct and perform in a revival production of his first verse play, Sweet Love Adieu, in the ruins of Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire.
Fun fact: The show starred Kate Golledge as 'Anne', who also went on to become an acclaimed UK and international theatre director.
★★★★ “Takes one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies and turns it into a hilarious comedy” -
"Methinks it's a treat!" - Whitby Gazette
2001
STAGE
SWEET LOVE ADIEU
Rogue Shakespeare was born when Smith directed, produced and starred in the world premiere of his first verse play, Sweet Love Adieu, in the ruins of the Roman Theatre in Verulamium (St. Albans), England in 2001. Performing to thronging local crowds, the local paper noted Smith's promise:
"There IS culture - if you want it! Highly accomplished…this play’s a comic delight!" - St. Albans Observer
The Roman Theatre, St. Albans, England
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