San Francisco Mime Troupe – Michael Gene Sullivan & Velina Brown
“Theatre is, and should be, dangerous because it can happen anywhere, and be about what matters. And if we decide that survival is more important than being the dangerous truth tellers we are meant to be, we will have rendered ourselves completely unimportant to our fellow citizens.”
— Michael Gene Sullivan, SF Mime Troupe
The San Francisco Mime Troupe receives The Prize of Hope 2026 for a body of theatrical work created over years in the San Francisco Bay Area under the motto: Theatre is the Town square.
For 66 years, the San Francisco Mime Troupe has insisted that theatre must go where people are and live. In a time when everything is measured, sold, and optimized, they insist on something else: that theatre is free, that art is a shared concern, and that people must gather physically and strengthen one another in an open community—for theatre is the Town square.
They perform in parks throughout the Bay Area, where audiences sit on blankets in the grass, and where laughter, anger, and insight arise in the very same moment. In this way, they create a space where people are not users—but a “united people,” gathered in large numbers and becoming a force, a possibility for action. In concrete terms, there is hardly a citizen in San Francisco who does not know of the San Francisco Mime Troupe.
In the performance “Disruption – A Musical Farce” (2025), SF Mime Troupe portrays a city—San Francisco—where “disruption,” carried in on golden promises, ultimately leads to despair. It bears witness to how people who have lived there for generations are forced to disappear, replaced by an elite with money in their pockets: Big Tech!
This unfolds in a performance that actively involves the audience. The characters are sharply drawn types, the situations are pushed into the absurd, and the action accelerates through repetition. Songs and music function as commentary on the action. It must be drawn large to fit the open space—and it is. A modern Commedia dell’Arte.
Michael Gene Sullivan (resident playwright) has written this and more than 20 other plays since the generational transition in 2000. He shapes the new SF Mime Troupe artistically with humor and does not hide his viewpoint, but throws it into the space with force and laughter—creating a theatre where people must take a stand.
Velina Brown is director and actor. She carries her characters with great stage power—connecting the political with the human, the concrete with the poetic. She is always in direct contact with her audience and creates a lived encounter with her characters. Together, they are guiding lights in a theatre with collective leadership and intact ideals.
The San Francisco Mime Troupe is one of the oldest ensemble theatres in the USA, founded in 1959. They have survived changing times, political crises, and economic conditions that have repeatedly threatened their existence. They are still here—and still moving forward.
The San Francisco Mime Troupe does not only struggle to describe a world in dissolution—they struggle to survive within it. Like so many citizens in their own city, they are under pressure from the same forces: financial strain, privatization of what is shared, and a culture where everything must pay for itself.
Their very existence after 66 years—and the way it continues—is remarkable. SF Mime Troupe demonstrates that theatre is possible: a living encounter that calls for action and resistance against dissolution, erosion, and the breakdown of communal life. It is not easy.
There is great hope attached to the San Francisco Mime Troupe: in their art, they insist that hope is tied to action. And they have shown that they can keep going.
Best of luck to everyone in the San Francisco Mime Troupe on their tour throughout the Bay Area from July 4 to mid-September. The San Francisco Mime Troupe will carry hope with them on this tour all the way. Congratulations on The Prize of Hope 2026.
The Institute for Popular Theatre & Dell’Arte International, USA, invite you to The Prize of Hope at Dell’Arte Theatre in Blue Lake, California on June 27, 2026.
The Prize of Hope is awarded to a person or a theatre that has worked for human hope; daring, loving, vulgar, serious, poetic… with sparkling energy against habitual thinking, which is the greatest threat to our culture: for a world where people use their own eyes, ears, and voices.
On behalf of the Institute for Popular Theatre* & Dell’Arte International**
Lars Olsen. Birthe Rosenfeldt.
* Board: Moqi Simon Trolin (Chair), theatre director; Allan Helge Jensen, actor; Lotte Augustesen, journalist; Marie Knudsen-Fogh, actor; Marie Tourell Søderberg, actor; Jullie Hjetland, singer; Helga, Nanna, Selma Rosenfeldt-Olsen, performing artist, visual artist, writer.
** Dell’Arte: Cleo De Orio, actor; Michael Fields, theatre director; etc.
The Prize of Hope is an international award. The vision is to promote living, vital, and innovative popular art. The prize was first awarded in 1989 in Denmark and in the United States in 2008. The award is presented every other year in Denmark at Aasen Theatre and every other year in the USA at Dell’Arte International in California.
Prize of Hope 2008: Michael Fields, Dell’Arte, Birthe Rosenfeldt, Aasen Theatre, Joan Shirle, Dell’Arte, Tim Robbins, The Actors Gang, Los Angeles. The Prize of Hope 2008 was awarded to Tim Robbins & The Actors Gang, Los Angeles.
The Prize of Hope 2025 to Belarus Free Theater & Natalia Kaliada & Nicolai Khalezin
“By delving into the pain of the world, we as artists create a space where we as humans can breathe, even when there is no air.” Natalia Kaliada, Belarus Free Theatre
Belarus Free Theatre receives the 2025 Prize of Hope for a showdown with the dictatorship’s brutal clockwork – lies, manipulation, propaganda, surveillance, eavesdropping, informing, torture, murder, etc. – which smashes and perverts the demand for a free and dignified human life. Now dictatorships are spreading on all continents. It is a contagion that is everywhere. Action is needed.
FIRST VOICE c/o Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu, San Francisco: The Prize of Hope 2024 for artistic work with a comprehensive multi-ethnic perspective.
The Prize of Hope 2021 to Aprilfestival, Denmark. The world’s largest theatre festival for children and young people. From the back: Klaus Tams, mask maker, Birthe Rosenfeldt, Aasen, Henrik Køhler, Aprilfestival, Moqi Trolin, Aasen, Michael Fields, Dell’Arte, Allan Helge Jensen, Aasen, Marie Knudsen-Fogh, Aasen, Selma Rosenfeldt-Olsen, Aasen, Nanna Rosenfeldt-Olsen, Aasen, Jeppe Groot, Aasen, Lars Olsen, Aasen, Helga Rosenfeldt-Olsen, Aasen.
Prize of Hope for a living, popular theatre.
35. San Francisco Mime Troupe 2026 – Michael Gene Sullivan & Velina eBrown. For a theatrical work created over many years in the San Francisco Bay Area under the motto: Theatre is the town square
34. Belarus Free Theatre 2025 Natalia Kaliada & Nicolai Khalezin, Belarus.
They reveal the nature of oppression in a totalitarian regime.
33. FIRST VOICE 2024 Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu, San Francisco,USA For an artistic body of work with a consistently strong multiethnic perspective.
32. Västanå Music & Theatre 2023 Leif and Inger Stinnerbom, Värmaland, Sweden. They create a vibrant, lively folk theater in Värmland, which people flock to.
31. Zimbabwe Theater Academy and Lloyd Nyikadzino 2022, Harare, Zimbabwe. They lead the way with young physical theatre in Africa.
30. Aprilfestival, Denmark 2021.The world’s largest theatre festival for children and young people.
The Frieze of Hope 1989–2019, created by Klaus Tams Dappertutto Mask Research. Denmark.
29. Kitt Johnson, X-act Copenhagen, Denmark 2019 Kitt Johnson is a shaman of our time.
28. UNIVERSES Theater Company 2018, New York, USA.They are a source of change, a continuing struggle for equality on the theater scene in the United States.
27. C:NTACT & Henrik Hartmann 2017. Frederiksberg, Denmark.C:NTACT creates intercultural encounters between people who otherwise would not have met: Every person carries a hope and a wish to succeed.
26. Cornerstone Theater Company 2016. Los Angeles, USA,Cornerstone Theater Company creates theater art, which brings people together regardless of race or background.
25. Théâtre du Solei & Ariane Mnouchkine 2015.“La Cartoucherie”, Paris, France. For 50 years, as an independent theatre collective, to have shared life, work and art, and together created a world class popular theatre.
24. Clowns Without Borders 2014. Bringing joy and hope to needy children in the shadow of war.
23. Christian Lollike 2013. Dramatist. Copenhagen, Denmark. For a radical reinterpretation of popular theatre with taboo as the means and dialogue as the aim.
22. Geoff & Dan Hoyle 2012, San Francisco, USA. Individually, they are amazing performers and as father and son, they are a multi-generational force for good.
Lars Olsen, Aasen, Joan Shirle, Dell’Arte, Birthe Rosenfeldt, Aasen, Eugenio Barba, Odin Theatre, Denmark, Max Lund Madeleine.
21. Eugenio Barba and The Odin Theatre 2011, Holstebro, Denmark. They have created an important contribution to the cultural heritage of the world and have been a cornerstone in Danish and Nordic theatre for almost half a century.
20. David Simpson, Jane Lapiner and Human Nature 2010, Petrolia, USA, received the Prize of Hope 2010. They have created original theatre pieces about significant environmental and climate change.
19. Suzanne Osten, Unga Klara 2009, Stockholm, Sweden, received the Prize of Hope 2009 because she has worked with theatre from the perspective of the child and other vulnerable groups all her life. She is part of the reason that Scandinavian children’s and youth theatre is amongst the best in the world.
18. Tim Robbins and The Actors’ Gang 2008, Los Angeles, USA, received the Prize of Hope 2008 for leaning into the wind with their combination of contemporary immediacy, public engagement and great theatrical craft created with a profound hope for changing the course of life for better. The event was hosted by Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake, California on June 21.
17. Set designer Poul Fly Plejdrup 2007, Odder, Denmark, for his magical open theatre. The open theatre is the space of living theatre and the theatre of hope.
16. Dell’ Arte International 2005, Blue Lake, USA. They have created a physical theatre school of an international standard in the far North of California’s Redwood district, which attracts students from all over the world.
15. Finn Hesselager 2004, Nørre Snede, Denmark. For his significant contribution to the development of Danish theatre, television and film, through his teaching of an entire generation of Danish actors.
14. Bådteatret (The Boat Theatre) The Prize of Hope 2003 went to Bådteatret, with its three brave captains Tue Biering, Rolf Heim and Emil Korf-Hansen 2003 because they insist on performing. In spite of financial cuts, they continue to perform political theatre in the spirit of our era.
13. Helle Ryslinge 2002, film director, Copenhagen, Denmark. For pioneering work within Danish film, uncovering societal taboos with her microscopic attention to detail.
12. Klaus Hoffmeyer 2001, Artistic Director at the Royal Theatre Copenhagen, Denmark. For keeping his core intact whether on the student scene or at the Royal Theatre of Denmark.
11. Åsa Simma 2000, Sámi theatre and film, Sápmi. Through her art, she awakens resources hidden in the rituals and images of the ancient mountains of Sámi culture.
10. Randi Patterson 1999, Living Movement & Nyt Dansk Danseteater, Copenhagen. Founder and pioneer of modern dance in Denmark.
9. Chris Torch 1998. Intercult, Stockholm, Sweden. Founder of Earth Circus & Shikaste. A pioneer in intercultural scenic art in Sweden, the Nordic countries and Europe.
8. Grenland Friteater 1997, Porsgrunn, Norway. For twenty years of pioneering work in group theatre in Norway – in a continuous search for identity in modern post-war Norway.
7. Hans Rønne 1996. Teatret, Odder, Danmark. For his solo performances as a distinguished landmark of Danish children’s and youth theatre in the year of the cultural city.
Hans Hellberg, Narren, Sweden, The Prize of Hope 1995.
6. Hans Hellberg 1995. Narren, Stokholm. Sweden. Founder of group theatre in the Nordic countries and its first important architect.
5. Arne Aabenhus & Asger Hulgaard 1994. Dansk Amatør Teater Samvirke. Founder and creator of Dansk Amatør Teater Samvirke (Danish Amateur Theatre Cooperation) for many years.
4. Iben Nagel Rasmussen 1992. Odin Theatre, Holstebro, Denmark. For being a pioneer of new acting in Denmark and for the performance ITSI BITSI.
3. Tage Hind 1991. Institut for Dramaturgi, Aarhus University, Denmark. For being a pioneer in the establishment of a new vision of theatre and founder of Institut for Dramaturgi at the University of Aarhus.
2. Aleksander Jochwed 1990. Theatre workshop Den Blå Hest, Aarhus, Denmark. Because the theatre breaks down barriers in the mind and between the East and the West.
1. Trevor Davies 1989. Festival of Fools, Copenhagen, Denmark, for creating a popular space for theatre and the Festival of Fools, as a cultural mediator and force to be reckoned with.
Västanå Music & Theatre 2023 & Leif & Inger Stinnerbom, Sweden
Institut for Folkeligt Teater and AASEN TEATER, BRØDHOLTVEJ 120, DK-9740 JERSLEV, Denmark
aasenteater@gmail.com, www.haabetspris.dk , www.aasen.dk, +45 61717343