Roman Castro Hernandez

“It’s a good opportunity to get a grasp of what it’s really like working in the real world on a production with a director, stage manager, designers and other actors.”

Like many young artists, Roman Castro Hernandez arrived in Montreal with a dream. Born and raised in Mexico City, he was attracted by the city’s lively arts and culture scene. Whether on stage or in the classroom, Roman shares his passion for storytelling with the Concordia community in creative ways that resonate with all audiences.

How did you end up in Montreal?

For me, choosing a university was more about the place and atmosphere of the city. I wanted to be in a cultural city that was affordable and had a young bohemian vibe. I wanted a city where artists could create and be free – essentially a city as vibrant as Montreal. The arts and cultural scene has so much to offer here. I lived my whole life in Mexico City before coming to Canada. Moving here was kind of a gamble for me, but I wanted to evolve as an artist, so it was a no brainer.

How did you choose Concordia for acting?

Since I was 13, I had a dream of studying abroad. I wanted to explore other cities and ways of seeing the world. I did a lot of research and contemplated over 300 universities in 20 countries. Canada was the most affordable and welcoming country, and Concordia’s Acting for the Theatre program didn’t require a foundation year like at other schools. I could start acting right from the beginning. Looking back, Concordia turned out to be the best option, so I’m glad I ended up here.

What do you like about Concordia’s acting program?

I like the teachers because they’re very active and always working on projects. They’re coaching people and they’re auditioning themselves, so they have a deeply rich knowledge of how the industry works. That’s very helpful for someone like me, who didn’t even know what a headshot was when I applied. We have a class called The Actors Profession, where we learn how to manage your career, get auditions, talk to agents and all the practical side of working in theatre. We get first-hand experience with everything. Our facilities are great too. Concordia is a very active place, and it’s about making connections and doing things yourself, not just doing research and theoretical work.

Are you working on a production right now?

In the program, you need to do at least two public presentation projects before graduating, whether they’re smaller stage readings or full studio productions. This semester, I’m part of a non-Canadian stage reading project. It’s open to the public, and the local theatre community is invited. It’s a good opportunity to get a grasp of what it’s really like working in the real world on a production with a director, stage manager, designers and other actors. We have access to the Concordia Theatre which gets filled with an audience, which is pretty cool.

What are you involved with outside of acting?

I'm passionate about the university experience and its community. I work as a student ambassador for Future Students and as a digital storyteller for Student Experience. It’s been super fun telling student stories and covering student news. I’ve got to meet and interview great people that way. Through this job, I’ve met counsellors, advisors, athletes, Welcome Crew mentors and even Concordia’s President Graham Carr. I’m happy to have been able to experience so many different communities within Concordia and covered many cool events, like going to Stingers games at Loyola Campus.

Join a campus tour with Roman and other student ambassadors to see Concordia from a new perspective!