SHAKESPEARE AS LIFELINE

Jacob Ming-Trent turns the Bard into
a blazing solo tour de force at Berkeley Rep

We are all on our personal journeys of living and being in the world. Everyone encounters setbacks, roadblocks, and moments of doubt. How does one persevere when life feels uncertain? In the 21st century, we have become increasingly self-aware, developing coping strategies to help us clear life’s hurdles. Therapy is widely embraced, 12-step programs address nearly every unhealthy compulsion, and many still lean on faith and family when life becomes overwhelming.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s How Shakespeare Saved My Life offers another path. Written and performed by Jacob Ming-Trent, this semi-autobiographical solo show blends performance art and stand-up comedy into a vivid, deeply personal narrative about survival, resilience, and the transformative power of language.

Ming-Trent recounts his childhood as an only child whose parents “checked out.” After his mother forced his father out, she worked multiple jobs to keep the family afloat, leaving young Jacob largely to fend for himself. With few role models, he discovered an unlikely lifeline: the works of William Shakespeare. To him, the Bard became an urban poet, a voice that spoke across centuries and circumstance.

As a young Black teen growing up in Pittsburgh, Ming-Trent embraced Shakespeare’s rhythms as a superpower. His confident recitation of sonnets and speeches — delivered in iambic pentameter — astonished peers and teachers alike. He connects classical verse to contemporary culture, weaving in references to Tupac Shakur, Jodeci, and The Notorious B.I.G., creating a bridge between Elizabethan poetry and modern hip-hop storytelling.

The production is supported by evocative scenic design from Takeshi Kata and a dynamic soundscape by Jake Rodriguez, with projected visuals enhancing the storytelling without overshadowing Ming-Trent’s commanding presence.

But the show offers more than a display of verbal virtuosity. Ming-Trent reveals a deeply personal journey toward love, connection, and forgiveness. At a moment in history when the world often feels fractured, his story resonates as a message of optimism and healing. It’s an energizing, heartfelt evening that reminds audiences of the enduring power of words — and the ways art can save us.

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photos by Kevin Berne

How Shakespeare Saved My Life
Peet’s Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
2015 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA
Friday through Sunday schedule varies
ends on March 1, 2026
for tickets ($25–$135), visit Berkeley Rep

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