The Young Shakespeareans 

An experienced and distinguished Educator and Shakespearean Actor, Hope’s upbringing in San Diego, the Fiji Islands, and New Zealand strongly shaped his global perspective and artistic passion. He returned stateside and, after completing his undergraduate education in Phoenix, Arizona, Hope made his professional debut in the film “Waiting to Exhale”. 

     

Acting opportunities beckoned in Chicago which in turn led to being tapped by the prestigious Trinity College’s Players Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. Playing the lead in “Macbeth”  ignited his lifelong commitment to Shakespeare and has guided his professional path and personal ethos ever since. Trained in the Stanislavsky Method under Deirdre O’Connell at the acclaimed Focus Theatre, Hope was certified as a Speech and Drama Teacher by The Irish Board of Speech and Drama. He then founded the Agni Acting Studio, a hub for community/educational initiatives, and vibrant venue for both annual and tri-annual performances which also provided Educational Outreach Programs holding core values of excellence in education, care, respect, community/equality/inclusivity, and personal growth that culminated in high quality performances for grammar and secondary schools throughout Dublin.

  

Since relocating to Los Angeles to dive into film, Hope has also worked with thousands of school children as a Drama Facilitator at the iLead Charter School in Pacoima, and with the Kingsmen Shakespeare Education Tours. While continuing to coach a select cadre of professional actors, he takes the helm at The Young Shakespeareans to enable and enhance exploration of our individual and collective humanity with ever more students through workshops and performances of Shakespeare’s timeless works. Without reservation he states, “I wouldn’t be the man I am today if I wasn’t given the opportunity to perform Shakespeare.”