"Superb stuff, a tremendous performance." John Slim, Birmingham Mail
"Even better was Gareth Bennett-Ryan, who squeezed some great comedy out of the knowing male scenario - some lines clearly resonating with both sexes - much to Bennett-Ryan's credit." Derek Smith, The Stage
"Created a charming and endearing character, drawing in the audience through his love story." Amy De Keyzer, Bury Free Press
"Charming as the gauche young lover." Hugh Homan, The Stage
"Gareth Bennett-Ryan is an engaging Richard Whittington, forthright and true. Pitch perfect vocally and dramatically." Hugh Homan, The Stage
"Well matched with Gareth Bennett-Ryan, they excel both as soloists and in the duets and concerted numbers." Anne Morley-Priestman, Whatsonstage
"Loveable as the slightly dim hero." Mark Beaumont, Bury Free Press
"Gareth Bennett-Ryan as the affable hero, Dick, charms." Glen Pierce, Glens Theatre Reviews
My full name is Gareth Adam Bennett-Ryan, and I was
born in 1984 in Grimsby, a small fishing town on the
East coast of England, where you can get the best
fish ‘n’ chips in the world.
My mum was adamant that I wouldn't be the sort of kid who hung around on street corners, so from a young age I was sent to every after school club in town (although I still managed to find time to hang around on street corners). I tried my hand at everything from archery to ice skating to trampolining, but acting was the one that stuck, and I soon found myself rehearsing most evenings for one thing or another.
At 18 I went to work at a hire centre and scaffold yard, then moving on to carpet fitting, as well as working in various bars in the evenings. Then at 20 I left Grimsby to train for three years at Birmingham School of Acting, where I gained a 1st class BA (hons) in Acting. More importantly though, I left with technique, confidence and knowledge, some wonderful experiences and a lot of very close friends.
Since moving to London, I have found myself playing a host of different characters all over England. Roles have been as varied as Osama Bin Laden and Barry Scott during my time on the topical sketch show 'News Revue', to an imaginary boyfriend in Sudden Productions 'Tell Me Lies'. I've performed in venues such as The Theatre Royal Haymarket, Birmingham Hippodrome and Shakespeare's Globe, and I have also performed in open fields and people's living rooms! I had a wonderful time playing Dick Whittington at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds over Christmas, and this year both From This Day and Mercenaries were released. The western revenge thriller Dark Country will follow in a few months.