Award Winning Performer Jacob Ming-Trent Brings His Autobiographical New Play To Berkeley Rep Next January

Drama Desk Award winning performer Jacob Ming-Trent writes and stars in this life-affirming autobiographical play, coming to Berkeley Rep in January 2026! Focusing on Ming-Trent's struggle to find his place as a poet and performer, How Shakespeare Saved My Life is a joyous ode to the impact of music and language, from the Bard through to Tupac.

What Is The Story?

Jacob Ming-Trent had a knack for poetry from a very young age. But there was a problem - he couldn't find a place where he really fit in. That is, until he started to connect with the timeless works of William Shakespeare. Ming-Trent takes his inspiration from the Bard and channels it into an extraordinary show combining beautiful language with brilliant music, bringing the audience on a powerful journey through poetic greats across the centuries.