Jake Smart (he/him) is a set and costume designer for theatre based in London and Warsaw, He trained at University of the Arts London with a BA in Theatre Design.

I am a set and costume designer with experience across the UK and Poland, having graduated in 2018. In 2020, my career took me to Warsaw, Poland, where I designed Bitwa o Tron in the Syrena Theatre, one of Warsaw's well-known musical theatre stages. The show went on to win Best Musical at the National Theatre Awards of Poland 2021.
Now back in London, I am eager to take on exciting new projects and to build new relationships and connections within the industry. 

I have a particular passion for new musicals and new writing, but I never shy away from reinventing a classic. Theatre is so inherently collaborative, and that's why I love being part of the process from the very beginning, working closely with directors, writers and the rest of the creative team. I always try to get into the rehearsal room from the earliest point possible. 

I am very passionate about championing diversity within the theatre industry, ensuring that all voices and stories are heard and represented. Whether through designing inclusive spaces or supporting projects that reflect diverse experiences, I aim to create work that resonates with a wide variety of audiences. 

Sustainability is also at the heart of my practice. Theatre can and should be both creative and responsible which is why I do as much as I can to put an eco-friendly mindset into my design process. 

Please feel free to get in touch to discuss any future projects for which I may be a suitable fit! Always happy to grab a coffee in town to meet new collaborators.

Currently Showing

Bitwa o Tron directed by Jacek Mikołajczyk (Teatr Syrena, Warsaw)

University of the Arts London BA Theatre and Screen - Theatre Design (First Class Honours, 2018)

Creative Alliance Education CAD for Backstage Theatre Course (2023)

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama MA Design for Performance (Starting Sep 2025)

Education and Training

April in Paris directed by Leigh White (Little Theatre, Leicester, 2024)

Bitwa o Tron directed by Jacek Mikołajczyk (Teatr Syrena, Warsaw, 2022)

Othello directed by Jan Orszulak (University of Gdansk, 2022)

Private Lives directed by Francesca Mcinally (Questors Theatre, 2019)

As You Like It directed by Shayde Sin’Claire (The Cockpit, 2019)

The Half Moon Shania directed by Hannah Benson (The Vaults Festival, 2019)

Set Design

The VR Diary of Attica Lehane directed by Sophie Flack (Drama Studio Sheffield, 2023)

Lust and Lies: Repeat directed by Don Allen (English Touring Theatre Company Poland)

Leaving directed by Emma Baggott (The Bunker, 2019)

The Interview directed by Emma Baggott (The Biscuit Factory, 2018)

Dreamland directed by Samuel Edmunds (Zoo Venues Southside, Ed Fringe, 2018)

The Half Moon Shania directed by Hannah Benson (Zoo Venues Southside, Ed Fringe, 2018)

Acknowledgements directed by Molly Byrne-Shore (Corbett Theatre, 2018)

Set and Costume Design

Assisting

Morgan Large Draughtsperson (For Sunset Boulevard Australia + Chitty Chatty Bang Bang UK Tour, 2024)

Basia Binkowska Draughtsperson + Model Maker (For Die Fledermaus, Stuttgart 2024)

Grace Smart Set Design Assistant (For Spring Offensive, 2017)

Lucy Algar Set Design Assistant (For The Invisible Effect, 2028)

Es Devlin Studio Model Maker (Various - One Week Placement)

Rebecca Erratt Set Design Assistant (For Merry Wives of Windsor and Macbeth - Pendley Shakespeare Festival, 2019)

NN directed by Marta Muszynska (a short film, 2022)

Art/Creative Direction