The Beauty of Being Herd, Ruth Berkoff Review

Written by Kirsty for Theatre and Tonic.

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.

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Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Is the art of small talk lost on you? Do you ever want to pack up and live in a cave? Well you aren’t alone because Ruth Berkoff’s heartfelt and honest comedy show The Beauty of Being Herd brings these questions to life in a wonderfully funny way.

Berkoff plays Hannah who plans on moving to a field to live as a sheep complete with a perfect disguise. As the guests at her goodbye party, Hannah tells the audience why she doesn’t want to live as a human anymore and I guarantee that everyone will connect with at least one of the issues that Hannah has.

Berkoff tells the story of loneliness, isolation and not knowing how to fit in in any social environment, with the aid of original music, very gentle audience participation and a “rave”. We can all see ourselves in Hannah in one way or another, and it is clear that Hannah just wants to be part of the flock. There is no doubt that in less capable hands, some of the scenarios could have been cringingly awkward and uncomfortable, but Berkoff played the part with such pathos and love that you are left wanting to tell Hannah that everything will be ok, and that you want to be her friend.

Social isolation is something that everyone experiences but no one ever wants to talk about, and that in the post pandemic world, the world created by Berkoff gives us all a place to exist and to admit that feeling awkward in the world is something that will resonate with everyone. Whilst there are so many truly funny moments in the show, there is also a darker side to Hannah’s desire to fit in and with that story alone, it is understandable why Hannah doesn’t trust other people, because what is the point of having rules of society, when everyone doesn’t follow them?

At the heart of the piece, Berkoff has written a piece of theatre which will resonate with many, and it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. I really hope that Berkoff gets the opportunity to open Hannah’s world to many many more people.

★ ★ ★ ★