Rogue Shakespeare® is Ryan J-W Smith's artistic pseudonym, as well as the name of his critically-acclaimed international theatre company that has been producing his award-winning verse plays since 2001.

Ryan J-W Smith, MA Law (Dist), is a multi-award winning verse playwright and critically-acclaimed poet/director/actor/producer/filmmaker/composer. To date he has written over 3,300 Shakespearean sonnets (that’s 46,200 lines of verse), 7 verse plays, released 5 albums, 1 EP, and 2 verse screenplays.

As a filmmaker, Smith’s films have received 25 international film festival wins, nominations or selections, including a selection for the Cannes Film Festival. 

As Rogue Shakespeare®, Smith's stage accolades include: OFFIES OffFest Award Winner 2025; two-time Hollywood Fringe International Award Winner; two-time Encore Producers’ Award Winner; Hollywood Fringe Comedy Award Nomination; Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award Nomination; Gandhi Foundation Award Recipient; three-time Arts Council England Award Recipient, two-time 'Pick of the Fringe' (Edinburgh), The Observer (Newspaper) Fringe Promoter of the Year, and countless professional 4 and 5-star reviews.

A prolific author of verse, Smith’s first 500 sonnets were published to universal acclaim in 2012 in his book ‘500 Shakespearean Sonnets'; his book of 3 award-winning and award-nominated plays ‘Rogue Shakespeare: 3 Plays’ was published in summer 2023, and his latest record-shattering epic poetic trilogy, Rogue Shakespeare's Sonnets: Truth in Verse - parts I, II & III (available either in 3 separate books, or in one combined book 'Rogue Shakespeare's Bible’) containing over 2,700 prophetic/spiritual/political/philosophical sonnets, will be published in 2026/7 - starting with PART ONE (that contains the first 1,000 of Smith's sonnets) - due for publication in the Summer of 2026. 

Rogue Shakespeare (Smith) is also a singer/songwriter, lead guitarist, pianist and composer. To date he has released 5 albums and an EP. His music is distributed worldwide by Virgin Music. 

As well as holding a batchelor’s degree in Theatre Studies from Trinity College, Smith graduated from law school with a master’s degree in Law, awarded with distinction.

Smith is the author, director and producer of Pretty, Witty Nell® (Smith's 7th and most recent verse play), as well as the composer of the music used in the award-winning production. 

PLAYS: (date indicates year of first performance)

Pretty, Witty Nell® (2019)

Romeo & Juliet it Ain't! (aka Sweet Love Adieu - version II) (2016)

MacDeth! (2016)

New World Order (2008)

Love Labours Won (2006)

Sweet Love Adieu (original version, 2001)

BOOKS:

Rogue Shakespeare's Sonnets: Truth in Verse - part I (expected - SUMMER, 2026)

Rogue Shakespeare's Sonnets: Truth in Verse - part II (expected - WINTER, 2026)

Rogue Shakespeare's Sonnets: Truth in Verse - part III (expected - SUMMER, 2027)

Rogue Shakespeare's Bible: Truth in Verse - parts I, II & III (expected - SUMMER, 2027)

ROGUE SHAKESPEARE: 3 Plays (published July 4, 2023)

500 Shakespearean Sonnets (published July 4, 2012)

Sweet Love Adieu (published 2003)

PRETTY, WITTY NELL® – Clarissa Adele – ‘Nell’