Ryan J-W Smith
Ryan J-W Smith, BA Theatre Studies, MA Law(Dist), is primarily: a critically acclaimed poet; a multi award-winning verse playwright; a critically acclaimed actor/director/producer; a festival-winning filmmaker; a composer and musician; a legal scholar; and, a successful business entrepreneur working professionally in the entertainment industry for over thirty years.
From the age of five until fifteen, Smith trained to be a professional tennis player - beating Britain’s future Men’s Number 1 in straight sets at the age of thirteen. Wimbledon was in his sights… Injury at the age of fifteen may have subsequently set him on a different path, but Ryan never lost the champion’s mindset: one of vision, dedication, positivity, iron-clad resilience and, above all else, an extraordinary work ethic.
Receiving a full scholarship from the E.U., Smith read Theatre Studies at Trinity College, Dublin. During his studies he was also awarded a scholarship from Trinity as the highest achieving student in his year.
After Trinity, Ryan quickly evolved to become a multi award-winning verse playwright/director/producer/actor via his own theatre company, Rogue Shakespeare®. His artistic accolades in this area include: OFFIES Award Winner 2025; two-time Hollywood Fringe International Award Winner (and four-time nominee); 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, and countless professional 4 and 5-star reviews.
Having now written over 3,100 Shakespearean sonnets, along with 7 verse plays, Smith has firmly established himself as a uniquely dedicated, internationally acclaimed, award-winning poet.
“Smith… the most prolific - and crucially, experienced - verse-drama writer in the UK.” - Fringe Review, June 2, 2024.
Ryan is also a musician (primarily playing guitar, piano & singing) and a composer. His first two solo albums were originally released with Universal Music in 2006; now re-released in 2025 with Virgin Music under his pseudonym, ‘Rogue Shakespeare’, along with three more albums and an EP.
Smith is also a festival-winning filmmaker. His films have been shown, selected for, nominated or won their categories at over 25 international film festivals, including Cannes.
Ryan graduated from law school with a Master’s Degree in Law, awarded with distinction. He has a particular focus and interest in Medical Law and Ethics; Contract Law; EU Law, and Criminal Law. Smith is a very strong advocate of civil liberties, freedom of speech, and bodily autonomy.
Alongside Yoga and Tai Chi, Ryan is a long-time practitioner of 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.
Ryan recently started podcasting - his show, ‘The Rogue Shakespeare Experience’ - “where truth, politics and poetry collide”, is available on all good podcast channels
