An brief introduction to
ROGUE SHAKESPEARE®
(aka Ryan J-W Smith)
Ryan J-W Smith, BA Theatre Studies, MA Law (Dist)
Poet / Playwright / Filmaker / Artistic Director / Director / Producer / Actor / Composer / Legal Scholar
From the age of five until fifteen, Ryan trained to be a professional tennis player – winning countless regional tournaments in the UK, and beating Britain’s future Men’s Number 1 in straight sets at when he was fourteen. Wimbledon was in his sights… Injury at the age of fifteen may have subsequently set him on a different path, but he never lost the champion’s mindset: one of vision, dedication, positivity, iron-clad resilience and, above all else, an extraordinary work ethic.
In 2005, Smith received an Arts Council England financial award (his 3rd ACE award) to write his subsequently critically-acclaimed 3rd verse play, Love Labours Won, which stunned critics and audiences alike at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2006 and 2007 and became “one of the most acclaimed plays to ever come out of the Edinburgh Fringe” – Broadway world; ★★★★★ “the best Shakespearean comedy not written by Shakespeare – this is unmissable!” – Three Weeks; ★★★★★ “go see it and watch great theatre in action” – UK Theatre Network; ★★★★★ “a damned good romp” – British Theatre Guide; ★★★★“still excellent – Smith has done an astonishing job” – Broadway Baby; ★★★★“Smith – master of the iambic pentameter, cleverly matches Shakespeare at his own game” – Hairline; ★★★★“Smith is, to my point of view, far better than anything that came out of Stratord” – One4Review; ★★★★“Smith is one to watch” – Fringe Review.
In 2008, he was nominated for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award for his 4th verse play – the politically daring one-man show, New World Order, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe receiving nothing but glowing 4 and 5 star reviews, and subsequently toured Australia: ★★★★★ “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. On top of this, Smith also received a Gandhi Foundation Award for his New World Order.
Between 2009 and 2015, Smith mainly focused on research and filming for political documentaries, interviewing on-camera countless experts, whistleblowers, rebels and great thought-leaders of our times – from grass-roots activists to MPs, Members of Congress, US Senators and Presidential Candidates; as well as many out-spoken doctors, academics, prominent international lawyers; not to mention many former intelligence officers from multiple agencies, including: MI5, CIA, FBI, UK Police Intelligence, Secret Service and the US Army. Some of his most recognisable interviewees include the late author and political commentator, Gore Vidal, the late 7-time Emmy Award winning actor and activist, Ed Asner, the late former leader of the UK Labour Party Tony Benn, and political author, Noam Chomsky.
A festival-winning filmmaker, Ryan has currently written, directed and produced 6 short films. To date, Smith’s films have received 25 international film festival wins, nominations or selections.
In 2012, Smith’s fifth short film, The Poet Cursed, written in Smith’s 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.
(In 2025, Smith has just completed filming on his latest short film in verse, Pretty, Witty Nell® – Final Act – The King’s Death.)
In 2015, moving back into theatre, Ryan directed 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 Hollywood Fringe Festival.
In 2016, he repeated and expanded upon this success by concurrently playing lead roles/directing/producing both the world premieres of his critically-acclaimed 5th verse play, MacDeth! – which won both the International Award and an Encore! Producers Award and was also nominated for the Comedy Award at the Hollywood Fringe Festival – as well as a critically-acclaimed rewrite of his 1st verse play, Romeo & Juliet it Ain’t, which was also nominated for the Hollywood Fringe International Award (losing to Smith’s ‘MacDeth!‘).
In 2019, Smith directed his latest (7th) verse play, the one-woman tragicomic history, Pretty Witty, Nell®, at the Hollywood Fringe – it was nominated for the International Award and highly praised by critics and audiences alike – with Broadway World calling it “perfect – a stand-out solo show”.
In 2023, Smith revived Pretty Witty, Nell®, directing and producing a critically-acclaimed run in London, which garnered unanimous praise from critics: ★★★★★ “Smith’s writing is exquisite… Simply put this play is a work of genius. Genius writing, genius direction and genius acting” – Pink Prince Theatre ★★★★ “Reenacted intricately and with flair, by this gentle wench, who knows the affair” – First Night Magazine ★★★★ “This is impressive… there is a lot of pleasure to be had in this kind of pastiche” – London Pub Theatres Magazine “Engrossing from start to finish… worthy of tremendous praise… I can only marvel at Smith’s craft” – Mark Aspen Reviews. “It’s modern, enjoyable Shakespeare; with comedy and tragedy – the lot!” – The Family Stage. “Pretty Witty Nell is a truly memorable production, a triumph.” – Twickenham and Richmond Tribune.
Smith winning the Hollywood Fringe International Award for the 2nd year in a row, 2016.
ROGUE SHAKESPEARE®
3 PLAYS
On July 4th, 2023, Smith published in paperback a 150 page book of 3 of his award-winning & critically acclaimed verse plays:
Pretty, Witty Nell®
– OFFIES award winner 2025
Love Labours Won
– Hollywood Fringe International Award Winner 2015
Romeo & Juliet it Ain’t!
– Hollywood Fringe International Award Nominee 2016
ROGUE SHAKESPEARE® - 3 PLAYS
NEW – 3rd EDITION – B Format
In 2024, Smith revived no less than 4 of his award-winning and award-nominated verse plays…
He started by producing and directing his Pretty Witty, Nell® to critical acclaim in the Rotunda Theatre in Brighton: “A show worth savouring, seeing twice and buying the text of… An outstanding gem. Smith – the most prolific and crucially, experienced verse-drama writer in the UK. His natural gifts have grown exponentially…” – Fringe Review ★★★★ “funny, sharp witted and brutally honest…an extremely strong performance… one to watch” – Broadway Baby ★★★★ “Smith’s objective in his Rogue Shakespeare company seems to be to revive the rhythm and richness of language achieved through the Bard’s iambic corpus; and the writing here definitely carries a similar spirit, though on the whole it’s much simpler and easier to understand, without the cryptic flights of fancy and lost usage. It’s a noble project and breathes new life into a kind of versification that is often needlessly assumed to be the preserve of one playwright.” – The Reviews Hub
Smith then produced, directed and performed in critically-acclaimed revival productions of 3 of his most popular plays, Love Labours Won, Romeo & Juliet it Ain’t! and MacDeth! with productions at the Brighton Open Air Theatre and the glorious open air Roman Theatre in St. Albans.
Smith’s MacDeth! 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.
The Open Air Roman Theatre in St. Albans, England
As well as holding a batchelor’s degree in Theatre Studies, Smith graduated from law school with a master’s degree in Law, awarded with distinction. Ryan has been admitted as a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn – a professional association for lawyers. Lincoln’s Inn is the largest inn of the famous Four Inns of Court in London.
Ryan is a long-time practitioner of many very useful life skills, including archery, shooting, fencing, motorcycling (since he was 16), flying, yoga, Tai Chi, and the Buddhist arts of Mindfulness Meditation and Wing Chun Kung-Fu. Smith considers Buddhist philosophy to be the foundation of all of his achievements and skills.
Smith is an avid globetrotter and has lived in many different states and cities across the world. From months touring around vast countries like Australia, to small countries such as Denmark – Smith’s many years living in America included a year in NYC and over five years in L.A. Having lived a fully-immersive year in Paris, France (speaking nothing but French) as well as several years in various regions of Spain, he now speaks conversational French and Spanish.
Ryan is also a composer, music producer and recording artist, playing keyboards, lead guitar, singing lead vocals and rapping (trip-hop). His first two solo albums, ‘Deep in the Shallows‘ and ‘Samsara‘, were originally released with Universal Music in 2006
In January 2025, both albums were re-released worldwide via Virgin Music Group under Smith’s pseudonym, ‘Rogue Shakespeare®’.
In the same month, a brand new 3rd album was released, ‘Sidewalk Symphony‘ – a collaboration album featuring the long-established experimental artist, Conflux Coldwell – along with the release of Rogue Shakespeare’s debut EP single, ‘Open Your Eyes’.
Click the album cover images to listen on APPLE MUSIC
On February 20th, 2025, Smith released Rogue Shakespeare’s 4th album – ‘In Memoriam Meditation’ – an experimental album consisting of one continuous one-hour choral track, designed for mindfulness meditation practitioners. Released worldwide via Virgin Music Group for download only.
On March 7th, 2025, Smith released Rogue Shakespeare’s 5th album – ‘Slice of Life’ – a mostly instrumental album, reminiscent of the style of his first album, ‘Deep in the Shallows‘. Released worldwide via Virgin Music Group.
WINNER – OFFIES OffFest Award 2025
On March 17th, 2025, Ryan was awarded an OFFIES OffFest award 2025, for his 7th verse play, Pretty, Witty Nell.
The 15th annual Off-West End Awards (‘the Offies’) ceremony took place in London’s prestigious 875 seat Great Hall at Central Hall Westminster that over looks Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
The Great Hall at Central Hall Westminster
Ryan J-W Smith winning the OFFIES OffFest Award 2025 for his Pretty, Witty Nell® photo: Piers Allardyce
PRETTY, WITTY NELL®
Mid-July, Smith produced and directed a revival of his 7th verse play, Pretty Witty, Nell® at Barons Court Theatre, London, with his precociously talented young protege, Clarissa Adele, taking over the title role. On her debut performance, after just 1 preview, Clarissa received stunning reviews from critics, along with a nomination for the Standing Ovation Awards –
★★★★★ “With a commanding script and bewitching performance, Pretty Witty Nell transports audiences back to the merry, muddied world of the Restoration. …a performance of startling vulnerability. Adele is mesmerising.“ – London Pub Theatres Magazine.
“Adele’s explosive performance left you unable to take your eyes off the stage for a moment. Ryan J-W Smith is truly a rogue Shakespeare, stealing the Bard’s famous techniques and reassembling them for a modern audience. It’s pretty, it’s certainly witty and the tongue-in-cheek, racy comedy, pinned down by the beautifully arresting moments of emotion and vulnerability, truly makes you feel as if Nell Gwynn is alive before your eyes.” – As Scene with Eithne
Following the stunning, award-nominated 5-star rated debut in London, Clarissa and Ryan toured Pretty Witty, Nell® to the Bedlam Theatre as a last-minute entry to the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe – presenting the show in ‘week 2’ only (August 12-17).
By the end of the week, despite being a last-minute booking, the show had quickly gathered a sizable following, and high critical acclaim.
“This is a superior piece of writing, with an exceptional performer in the chair. There are very few superlatives left for Pretty Witty Nell in terms of writing, but this is exceptional.” – Fringe Review
★★★★ “poignant and heartfelt… one of Pretty, Witty Nell’s greatest strengths – it took a tale that seemed predictable and made it utterly relevant in today’s world… Physical theatre in the show was highly commendable… a joy to watch and experience, and for anyone interested in historical fiction, it’s a sure winner.” – The Student News
Rogue Shakespeare’s Sonnets
TRUTH IN VERSE – parts I, II & III
OCTOBER 2025 – Alongside his verse plays, Ryan has now written over 3,000 Shakespearean sonnets as the candid, poetic diary of his alter ego, ‘Rogue Shakespeare’.
The first 500 of Smith’s sonnets were published in 2012 in the critically-acclaimed volume, ‘500 Shakespearean Sonnets – The Diary of a Poetic Quest for Truth‘ – “A landmark in literature” – Watkins Magazine; “A tour de force” – Herald Scotland; “deserves to sit along side your Poes, Plaths, and T.S. Elliots” – Mass Movement Magazine; “Masters of the verse – Smith pays homage to the Bard with the must-read collection of his own modern verse” – London Planner; “Shakespeare’s record of 154 sonnets in his lifetime was breathtaking. But what Ryan J-W Smith has achieved is simply awe-inspiring.” – Book A Poet.
COMING SOON IN 2025 – Boasting more lines of verse than Homer’s epic poems Iliad and Odyssey combined, Smith will publish, in 3 parts, all of his sonnets (from 7 June, 2006 to September 11, 2024) up to and including sonnet 2,700. Smith’s epic trilogy in verse will be available either in 3 separate books – Parts I, II & III of ‘Rogue Shakespeare’s Sonnets‘, or combined in the aptly named 1,388 page book, ‘Rogue Shakespeare’s Bible – TRUTH IN VERSE – Parts I, II & III‘.
Ryan has since written another 300+ sonnets which will be published in the future as part IV of his epic, ongoing, spiritual diary in verse.
“Reading through Ryan J-W Smith’s bio is a depressing affair. Read through it when you’re enjoying a particularly productive phase and it will still, more than likely, make you feel like a pathetic underachiever.
Thing is, Smith doesn’t just do all these things – he does them exceptionally well.”
Also click below to read Rogue Shakespeare’s full Director/Producer resume for film and stage
