Ryan Bennett is a New Zealand born actor who trained at Actors Centre Australia before completing a Master of Arts at Guildford School of Acting in the UK where he now lives and works.
Ryan has starred in indie feature films Zoe; Misplaced, Ascension Chronicles and Our Little Haven, and performed in his first TV series when he was just 16 (but no chance you’re getting the name of that one)!
Ryan has performed on stage at the Sydney Opera House in Nightbook and toured New Zealand, Australia and parts of the U.K. with The Factory – a new musical, in the male lead role. After settling in the UK, Ryan played Bob Crewe in the international tour of Jersey Boys in theatres from Dubai to China, to rave reviews. He followed that, in complete contrast, by playing Dromio of Ephesus in Comedy of Errors and Angus/Lennox in Macbeth for Pop-Up Globe in Sydney. Ryan returned to the UK appearing in Daddy Long Legs at The Barn Theatre in Cirencester as Jervis Pendleton (A.K.A Daddy Long Legs) then travelled north to Buxton for Cinderella playing Prince Charming, before returning to Cirencester and The Barn Theatre with The Importance of Being Earnest playing Graham de Hare (A.K.A Jack, Cecily, Chasuble, Bracknell, Lane) – then transferring with the show to The Turbine Theatre in London. Post-Pandemic, Ryan has played Professor Bhaer in Little Women (The Musical) at The Park Theatre in London & Lurch in The Addams Family musical in theatres across the UK & Ireland. Ryan then returned to the London stage appearing in Heathers (musical) at The Other Palace in the roles of Coach Ripper/Big Bud Dean/Kurt’s Dad & in Glory Ride – a new musical premiering at The Charing Cross Theatre in the role of Graziani.
Ryan also writes and produces his own short films and theatre shows. These pieces have been screened and staged in London and several countries outside the UK, and have won him numerous accolades.
Since graduating drama school in 2012, Ryan has taught acting at many schools including NIDA (Sydney), Sylvia Young Theatre School (London), Guildford School of Acting (University of Surrey, UK), Emil Dale Academy (London) and CCMT (Auckland) and for iampro.com online as their head of young performers. Ryan’s passion for teaching matches his passion for performance, directing and writing.
Ryan’s diverse range of projects and abilities keeps him happily busy and always creatively charged.
REVIEWS
HEATHERS – THE OTHER PALACE, LONDON 2022
“All are in fine voice and are given chances to belt to the rooftops. Most noticeable are the sections where the “adults” of the piece are allowed to shine, as two dads (Ryan Bennett and Stuart Turner) lament their ‘dead gay sons’…” – Issy Flower, The Reviews Hub 2022
“…one moment which stood out was at the start of the second half when Stuart Turner as Ram’s Dad and Ryan Bennett as Kurt’s Dad lead the cast in the song ‘My Dead Gay Son’. Whilst, by this point, the story had taken several dark twists and this moment was dealing with several serious issues, this number was delivered with such energy that it was hard not to want to be on stage with them all.” – Kat Fuller, Box Office Radio 2022
THE ADDAMS FAMILY – UK & IRELAND TOUR 2022
“It’s hard to pick out performers but I loved the strong yet silent towering butler Lurch (played by Ryan Bennett)” – Sarah Hardy, Lynn News (Norwich)
“…Ryan Bennett who somehow manages to shine in the silent-but-deadly role of Lurch.” – Manchester Evening News (Manchester)
“Last but by no means least (and his Lurch character traits of being so amazingly slow at everything means it’s fitting that we put him last) is Ryan Bennett (The Importance Of Being Ernest, Cinderella, Comedy Of Errors, Jersey Boys). Bennett is another audience favourite as Lurch and is a performance I wish many a young drama student who counts the amount of lines they have in any given performance, could watch. Bennett truly demonstrates how you can steal the show with no words at all. He is controlled, makes the audience wait for him time and time again, and not only do they wait, they love it! His language of grunts and groans, along with his precise and hilarious movements convey everything he needs to. So be prepared for an incredible surprise towards the end of the show, that will leave you knowing what a true showstopper Bennett really is.” – Manchestertheatres.com
“A special mention also must go to Ryan Bennett as Lurch, the zombified butler. It is expertly crafted for a seemingly ‘simple’ character choice and allows for great moments of comedy through nothing more than a lack of movement.” – Michael, Frankly My Dear UK (Manchester)
“Lurch in particular was hilarious, his slow lumbering walks across the stage reducing the theatre to fits of laughter.” – Cheryl Mullin, Liverpool Echo (Liverpool)
LITTLE WOMEN – THE PARK THEATRE, LONDON (UK)
“As [Jo’s] love interest, the German Professor Bhaer, Ryan Bennett brings both gravitas and humour to proceedings.” – The Art Desk, Rachel Halliburton
“Ryan Bennett’s personable Professor Bhaer is age-appropriate and less condescending than his counterpart in the book, and his relationship with Jo is as convincing as it will ever be.” – The Stage, Julia Rank
“Ryan Bennett as Professor Bhaer is charming” – Rewrite This Story, Olivia Mitchell
“Finally Bennett’s Bhaer with ‘How I am’ […] only reiterates his importance and also talent.” – Pocket Size Theatre, George Butler
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST – THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER & THE TURBINE THEATRE, LONDON (UK)
“Ryan Bennet and Aidan Harkins play every character in the show [with]… seemingly infinite energy and commitment, flipping back and forth between characters with great delight. They manage to find a great variety in their performance..” – The Reviews Hub, London
“The wit of the well rounded dialogue uttered by Bennett… is delivered with a crisp, clean and clear elocution at the highest level… These two actors have fine comic timing coursing through their veins… – Stephen Vowles, BOYZ, London
“For those who attended The Barn’s rather sensational production of Daddy Long Legs in the latter half of last year, the name Ryan Bennett may sound familiar, for he in fact portrayed Jervis Pendelton to an exceptional standard, and to see him once again grace the same stage as he was once on only months prior, and this time in another two-hander, is a pleasure to observe. .[..] I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t the last we have seen of these two greats on stage.” – Creative Reviews UK
“Bennett returns to the Barn following his successful debut in the theatre’s acclaimed musical production of Daddy Long Legs and demonstrates his versatility as he throws himself effortlessly into the fray.” – Stroud News and Journal
DADDY LONG LEGS – THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER (UK)
“[Ryan] Bennett equally charms, delights and shines” – Creative Reviews
“Ryan Bennett who plays Jervis Pendleton… [is] a dream from the opening number to the finale.” – Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard
“…something quite unquestionable is the outstanding performance delivered by…Ryan Bennett – impressive for its sheer endurance, with thousands of lines learnt and delivered faultlessly, as well as its West End calibre…. Ryan Bennett traversed the haughty and lovestruck spectrum of Jervis / Daddy well.” – So Glos
“I don’t think I’ve ever been to a live show before where the actors sound the same quality, if not better than the original… Ryan Bennett as rich Jervis Pendleton does a brilliant job at winning the audience over. From some seriously intense numbers to some really humorous moments, Bennett has the character down to a T.” – One Woman West End Show
COMEDY OF ERRORS – POP-UP GLOBE, AUSTRALIA
“Ryan Bennett and Blake Kubena are both excellent as the two Dromios, sharing a convincingly similar performance style and throwing themselves into the full-bore physicality hurled at them by their masters” – Limelight
“The Dromios (Blake Kubena and Ryan Bennett) give impressive high energy performances throughout and have the audience eating from their palms.” – Arts Review
“Both Dromios, Ryan Bennett and Blake Kubena, mirror each other so well, it is hard to believe they are not actually twins.” – Theatre Now
THE FACTORY – RIVERSIDE THEATRE, SYDNEY
“Ryan Bennett plays Edward Wilkinson, Bennett has a singing voice and vocal ability that met the huge voices of his Islander cast members. A tremendously talented singer whose voice married beautifully with Grants, their duets were heaven to listen too. His performance naturalistic and complimentary to some of the more flamboyant characters surrounding him. A joyful performer to watch.” – Stevie Zipper
“…Bennett as the leads were the most mind-blowingly pure and unwaveringly strong vocalists, and it practically induced a state of nirvana closing one’s eyes and just basking in the glorious sound seemingly coming straight from their hearts.” – The Barefoot Review
DON’T RUN – WATERLOO EAST THEATRE, LONDON
“Bennett has a fine tenor voice and presents Michael in both his 20-something and his 40-something incarnations with great clarity and his final scene with the family is strong.” – Musical Theatre Review
JERSEY BOYS – INTERNATIONAL TOUR
“Ryan added so much depth and character to Bob, and I can hear the emotion in his character. He also put many details in other minor roles through his facial expressions and eyebrow movements.” – Tanchidelizi, Weibo (audience review)
“Ryan brings so much to the character of Crewe.” – JustAileen, Weibo (audience review)
“When Ryan show up with a tiny guitar in the Pizza Restaurant, his smile is so shining! His foot popped just before exiting the stage. That is such an attractive and clever move! Caught my eyes at once. I’ve seen the Jersey Boys movie, and Ryan’s Bob is way cuter! The young young young young man he said, every audience would read between the lines! We’ve got the message!!” – Cheering, Weibo (audience review)
“Great Opening Night from a fantastic cast at a world class amazing venue. Standing ovation from over 1,300 in the audience. Very Classy experience.” – Bryan H, (Tripadvisor, 2017)
“A fantastic show at the fabulous Opera House. The cast were amazing and top marks for the singing. Loved it!!!” NatashainDubai (Tripadvisor, 2017)
“Excellent show from start to finish and the singing was amazing from all the cast, Fully recommend this show.” – Robert B, (Tripadvisor, 2017)
Ryan Bennett 