Hirst's stage debut saw him giving dramatic Shakespeare recitals at the age of twenty in what was once the "old Gymnasium Hall" in Huddersfield.
An anonymous contemporary remarked of Hirst's King John recital: "The scene between Hubert and Prince Arthur was admirably rendered, and the difficult task of representing the two characters, so very dissimilar, was ably accomplished by Mr. Hirst, whose rich voice and clear enunciation are well suited for the parts he sustained."
Hirst's preferred Shakespearean role was that of Othello and notably, once played the character alongside famous German actor Herr Bandmann as Iago.
Much controversy arose around Hirst's claims of owning an original Adam Elsheimer portrait of William Shakespeare.
- The Huddersfield Examiner, 6 August 1934 Hirst took great pride in his art collection, boasting a 225 strong selection of oil painting, apparently including the works of Raphael, Cimabue, Leonardo, Rubens, and of course, Elsheimer.