Roy Smiles

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British playwright

title: "Roy Smiles" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1956-births", "living-people", "english-dramatists-and-playwrights", "english-male-film-actors", "english-male-singer-songwriters", "english-male-television-actors", "male-actors-from-london", "english-male-dramatists-and-playwrights"] description: "British playwright" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Smiles" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary British playwright ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Roy Smiles
image	Roy Smiles.jpg
birth_date
birth_place	London, England
occupation	Dramatist, playwright, songwriter
yearsactive	1987–present
website	https://roysmiles.bandcamp.com
::

Roy Smiles (born 1966) is a singer-songwriter & playwright from Ealing, London. He is also an occasional actor.

Smiles has written 27 theatre plays, the best known of which is Kurt and Sid, a 2009 London West End production about the fictional meeting of Sid Vicious and Kurt Cobain, starring Danny Dyer & Shaun Evans.

He has released ten albums of songs: Drunks & Dreamers, Time's Moving On, Seize The Day, Autumn Song, Bremen, The Trains & The Rain, Northern Angels, Lost Souls, November's Child, and Tales Of The Oceans.

He has released fourteen compilations of his music: London Hymns, Winter's Child, Clancy's Song, If Summer Comes, Ballads Of The Thames, Child Of Two Rivers, Go Gently (Best Of), A Land Called Home (Best Of II), Forty Big Hits , 40 More Big Hits, 40 Big Hits III, Songs For Lost Lovers, Best Of III & Vera Songs.

Career

Smiles' stage plays focus largely on biographical subjects such as Spike Milligan (Ying Tong - A Walk With The Goons), Kurt Cobain (Kurt & Sid), Albert Camus (The Weight Of Days), Evelyn Waugh (Waugh In Winter), Marilyn Monroe/Arthur Miller (Reno), George Orwell (Year of the Rat), Tony Hancock (The Lad Himself) & Robert F. Kennedy (The Last Pilgrim).

His first play staged in 1992 at the Battersea Arts Centre, Schmucks was about a fictitious meeting between Groucho Marx and Lenny Bruce.

The Promised Land, a play commissioned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of V.E Night and set on the same night, was staged at the Kings Head Theatre in 1995.

A number of his plays have debuted or transferred to theatres around the world, such as Pythonesque, the story of the Monty Python team, which opened in South Africa in 2008 before moving to Edinburgh as part of the Fringe Festival in 2009.

The Boys Of Summer - his play set in a HIV ward was staged at the Old Red Lion in 1995, with Ian Bartholomew.

Stand Up - his play about the London stand-up comedy scene was staged at the Old Red Lion in 1999, with Lucy Davies. It was revived at The Kings Head Theatre in 2006 under the title The Ho-Ho Club directed by Karl Howman and starring Sally Lindsay.

Bombing People - a farce about the Enola Gay, was staged at the Jermyn Street Theatre in 2000, with Michael Fitzgerald.

Sick Dictators - a farce about Chilean dictator General Pinochet, was staged at the Jermyn Street Theatre in 2001, directed by James Bolam.

In 2002 he played the role of Itzhak Heller, a Jewish collaborator, in Roman Polanski's Oscar winning Best Picture The Pianist.

Ying Tong - A Walk with the Goons, the story of Spike Milligan's nervous breakdown whilst writing The Goon Show, was staged at West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2004, transferring the following year to the New Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End before touring the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Year Of The Rat - his play about George Orwell's attempt to woo wife-to-be Sonia Brownell whilst writing 1984 was staged at West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2007, with Hugo Speer as Orwell.

Good Evening - about the Beyond The Fringe team had its world premier in South Africa in 2007 then was broadcast on Radio 4 in 2008, with Benedict Cumberbatch as Dudley Moore.

The Last Pilgrim - about Senator Robert F. Kennedy's doomed campaign for the American Presidency was staged in London in 2010.

The Lad Himself - his play about self loathing radio & TV comedian Tony Hancock was staged at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013.

Memories Of A Cad - his radio play about actor Terry-Thomas dealing with Parkinson's Disease was broadcast on Radio 4 in 2014, with Martin Jarvis as Terry-Thomas & Alistair McGowen as Richard Briers.

Reno - his play about Marilyn Monroe & Arthur Miller's marriage imploding during the making of The Misfits had its world premiere at the Brighton Festival in 2014.

Plum - his play about writer PG Wodehouse's infamous broadcasts from Berlin in WW2 was staged at The Court Theatre in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2014.

Year of the Rat, *Ying Tong *, Pythonesque and Kurt & Sid are published by Oberon Books.

Funny People, his book on his comedy heroes, was published by Oberon Books in 2016.

Ten Plays by Roy Smiles was published by Oberon Books in 2018. Containing his plays on Albert Camus, Richard Burton, Oscar Wilde/George Bernard Shaw, Evelyn Waugh, Tony Hancock, Lenny Bruce, the Enola Gay, the Iraq War, Marilyn Monroe/Arthur Miller & the 2011 London Riots.

Ying Tong, Pythonesque and Good Evening were broadcast on BBC Radio 4. As were his plays: Dear Arthur Love John, Goodnight From Him and Memories Of A Cad.

The Funny Girls - his play about Barbra Streisand & Joan Rivers rivalry/friendship, was first staged at The Wimbledon Theatre in September 2021.

A Sober October - his biographical memoir on surviving bowel cancer, was published on Amazon Books in 2022.

The Lad Himself - his play about Tony Hancock, had its London premiere at Upstairs At The Gate in Highgate in April 2022.

Forty two of his plays are self-published on Amazon Books.

The Lyrics - his book of the lyrics of his one hundred & forty songs, was published on Amazon Books in November 2023.

40 Big Hits (Volume III) - was released on Spotify in August 2024.

His music sites passed the target of 500,000 listens as of September 2024.

Ghosts Of London, a 3 track EP, was released in October 2024.

The Czech language version of Kurt & Sid was produced in Prague at the Malostranská beseda from January 2025.

Down By The Thames, a 3 track EP, was released in November 2025.

A Stranger To The Sun, a single, was released on Spotify in January 2026.

Plays

Schmucks – Battersea Arts Centre, London, 8 July 1992
Roberto Calvi Is Alive & Well – Finborough Theatre, London, 14 October 1992
Top of the Town – Kings Head Theatre, London, 1992
Idiot's Waltz – Finborough Theatre, London, 9 September 1993
The Court Jester – Warehouse Theatre, Croydon, London, 13 December 1994
Danny Boy – Etcetera Theatre, London, 1994
The Boys of Summer – Old Red Lion Theatre, London, 11 July 1995
Dinner with the Borgias – Warehouse Theatre, Croydon, London, 8 December 1995
The Promised Land – Kings Head Theatre, London 1995
Get It While You Can, A Conversation With Janis Joplin – Etcetera Theatre, London, 3 November 1996
The Exiles (or Highgate Shuffle) – Hen and Chickens Theatre, London, 30 November 1997
Stand-Up – Old Red Lion Theatre, London, 23 March 1999
Bombing People – Jermyn Street Theatre, London, 22 August 2000
Sick Dictators – Jermyn Street Theatre, London, 31 July 2001
Lunatic's Tango – Hen and Chickens Theatre, London, 26 April 2002
Ying Tong: A Walk with the Goons – West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, 22 October 2004
*The Ho Ho Club * (formerly Stand Up) – Kings Head Theatre, Islington, London, 26 June 2006
Good Evening – Theatre-on-the-Bay, South Africa, 2007
Year of the Rat – The Forge at The Court Theatre, Christchurch, New Zealand, 19 October 2007
Pythonesque – Theatre-on-the-Bay, South Africa, 2008
Kurt and Sid – Trafalgar Studios, London 9 September 2009
Backstage – The Forge at The Court Theatre, Christchurch, New Zealand, 30 October 2009
The Last Pilgrim – The White Bear Theatre, London, 28 September 2010
Burlesque – A Musical (co-written with Adam Megiddo) – Jermyn Street Theatre, 9 November 2011.
The Lad Himself – The Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh Festival, 1 August 2012.
Plum – The Court Theatre, Christchurch, New Zealand, 9 August 2014.
Reno – The Rialto Theatre, Brighton, 16 December 2014.
The Funny Girls - Wimbledon Studio Theatre, 17 September 2021.

References

Spencer, Charles. (16 September 2009). "Kurt and Sid at the Trafalgar Studios, review".
(1 June 2013). "Music | Roy Smiles".
(29 April 2017). "Free Music Sharing and Discovery".
(1 April 2022). "Time's Moving On".
(2 April 2022). "Seize the Day".
(31 May 2022). "Autumn Song".
(14 July 2022). "Bremen".
(22 July 2022). "The Trains & the Rain by Roy Smiles".
(24 July 2022). "Northern Angels".
"Free Music Sharing and Discovery".
"Roy Smiles | Jamendo Music | Free music downloads".
"November's Child, by Roy Smiles".
(9 June 2023). "November's Child".
"Tales Of The Oceans, by Roy Smiles".
(4 November 2023). "Tales of the Oceans".
(1 May 2017). "London Hymns".
(1 May 2017). "Winter's Child".
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clancys-Song-Roy-Smiles/dp/B0728P855D] {{dead link. (November 2023)
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/If-Summer-Comes-Roy-Smiles/dp/B078325NKH] {{dead link. (November 2023)
(30 October 2019). "Ballads of the Thames".
(5 June 2021). "Child of Two Rivers".
(11 January 2021). "Go Gently (Best Of)".
(15 January 2021). "A Land Called Home (Best of II)".
(1 January 2022). "40 Big Hits".
(16 January 2022). "40 More Big Hits".
https://open.spotify.com/album/3WfDGVNdpJ1urzQklCpH08
https://open.spotify.com/album/1INaEBrblpOgSVVHC2BdZK
https://open.spotify.com/album/3DKRKdrS4VcFwSgDYdxYsw
https://audiomack.com/roy-smiles/album/vera-songs
https://www.deezer.com/en/album/897077352
"Reno | Fringe Guru".
Alfred Hickling. "Theatre review: Year of the Rat / West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds | Stage". [[The Guardian]].
(29 August 2012). "Review: The Lad Himself, Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14)".
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Pilgrim-Bobby-Kennedy-1968/dp/B0BS93Z5SK
"Schmucks".
(16 January 2023). "The Promised Land: VE Night, 1945: 9798373977159: Books". Independently published.
(12 August 2009). "Edinburgh Festival 2009: Pythonesque at the Cowbarn, E4's Udderbelly, review".
(2 August 2009). "Theatre review: Pythonesque". [[The Scotsman]].
(18 January 2023). "The Boys Of Summer: Little Green Monkey Club: 9798374167870: Books". Independently published.
"Theatre review: The Ho-Ho Club at King's Head Theatre".
Bennett, Steve. "The Ho-Ho Club : Reviews 2006 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide".
"BOMBING PEOPLE".
"Archive for Sick Dictators at Jermyn Street Theatre, London. 2001. [LONDON]".
"The Pianist (2002)".
Michael Billington. "Ying Tong, New Ambassadors, London | Stage". [[The Guardian]].
Charles Spencer. (16 February 2005). "The genius – and the torment – of Spike Milligan".
(14 March 2008). "Year of the Rat". The Guardian.
"Good Evening - Radio 4 Comedy Drama".
"THE LAST PILGRIM To 23 October.".
Lentell, Dan. (6 August 2012). "The Lad Himself".
"Memories of a Cad - Radio 4 Comedy Drama".
Levy, Paul. (28 May 2015). "Reno".
"PLUM - A regular wheeze plus facts and irony".
"Theatre review: The Year of the Rat at West Yorkshire Playhouse".
"Roy Smiles".
Smiles, Roy. (18 October 2011). "Funny People: My Journey Through Comedy". Bloomsbury Academic.
"Roy Smiles: 10 Plays".
"Dear Arthur, Love John By Roy Smiles".
"Goodnight From Him - Radio 4 Comedy Drama".
"Memories Of A Cad".
(21 September 2021). "The Funny Girls".
"Review: THE FUNNY GIRLS, New Wimbledon Theatre Studio".
(21 September 2023). "A Sober October: Bottom Cancer & How To Survive It: 9798862080810: Books". Independently published.
(22 April 2022). "The Lad Himself: Tony Hancock brought to life in funny nostalgic show **".
"Roy Smiles: books, biography, latest update".
"The Lyrics: The Lyrics of Roy Smiles".
(20 August 2024). "40 Big Hits, Vol. 3".
"Ghosts of London (EP), by Roy Smiles".
"Kurt & Sid {{!}} Prague".
"Kurt a Sid - Malostranská beseda {{!}} i-divadlo.cz".
https://roysmiles.bandcamp.com/album/down-by-the-thames-ep
https://open.spotify.com/album/0HmtwkEagWl4rOuDv8bq1s
Gable, Jeremy. (1 December 2008). "Schmucks". EDGE Philadelphia.
(22 October 2011). "THEATRE / Top of the Town - King's Head, London N1".
(1 December 1994). "Review of The Court Jester".
(21 September 2011). "Theatre: On the Fringe".
Michael Billington. (29 October 2004). "Ying Tong, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds | Stage". The Guardian.
(5 November 2006). "The Ho-Ho Club – King's Head Theatre – Your London Reviews". IndieLondon.
"Good Evening: Behind "Beyond the Fringe" Audiobook {{!}} Roy Smiles".
"New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.
"Danny Dyer Plays Vicious in Kurt & Sid Premiere – – News".
"New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.
(4 October 2010). "The Last Pilgrim, by Roy Smiles « Fringe Report". Fringereport.wordpress.com.
Paul Taylor. (2 November 2011). "Burlesque, Jermyn Street Theatre, London (4/5) – Reviews – Theatre & Dance". The Independent.
Cavendish, Dominic. (23 August 2012). "Edinburgh 2012: The Lad Himself, Gilded Balloon, review". Telegraph.
"Plum". The Court Theatre.
(28 May 2015). "Reno".
(17 December 2014). "Reno". The Latest.
(23 September 2021). "Funny Girls - New Wimbledon Theatre Studio".

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