Professor Emma Smith said:

“I am absolutely chuffed and honoured to be joining the RSC board at such an exciting and dynamic time for the Company. I really look forward to lending my support to its ambitious programme, and to learning more about all its activities, on and off stage.”

RSC Chair Shriti Vadera added:

"Emma is one of the UKs leading Shakespeare scholars and has been helping us make our house playwright’s work accessible to audiences and participants of all ages for many years. We are absolutely delighted she has agreed to join our Board.”  

Emma is Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Hertford College, Oxford, and the author of numerous books including Shakespeare’s First Folio: Four Centuries of an Iconic Book and This Is Shakespeare. Professor Smith also edits the journal Shakespeare Survey, is the General Editor for the Oxford World’s Classics Shakespeare and is currently working on a new edition of Twelfth Night for the Arden series.