Sheep don’t have to deal with awkward social interactions, complicated rules, or the pressure to impress. They live by four simple principles: eat, baa, keep their eyes open, and stick together. In The Beauty of Being Herd, Ruth Berkoff’s eccentric and endearing solo performance, she introduces us to Hannah, a character who arrives at the epiphany that perhaps sheep life may be for her.
Hannah thanks us all for coming along to her goodbye party at Manchester’s Terrace NQ and introduces the audience to her little plan: get the 35 bus to a field and live there with the sheep. Meanwhile, Berkoff’s protagonist enjoys an instant harmony with the crowd; the show is playful and interactive as it delves into life as a sheep. For the next 60 minutes, Berkoff uses Hannah as an enigma to convey feelings of not belonging, so much so that it’s no longer desirable to be human.
Berkoff’s portrayal of Hannah is brilliant, and her whimsical energy is entertaining yet sincere. She gives sheep headbands to the front row, splits the crowd into four groups to focus on different core sheep principles, and encourages the audience to join her in frolicking and baa-ing. It’s a room full of adults watching a woman dressed as a sheep talk about the deep difficulties of being in social situations, yet everyone is captivated.
The audience relationship feels comfortable, and Hannah convinces those present to shake off worries such as rent and work – because, after all, a sheep isn’t worrying about that. She talks about the struggles of following rules in social interactions, including not knowing when to speak, not being interesting enough to contribute to conversation, or overstepping boundaries. Suddenly the performance is not only charming but sad, as she shares anecdotes about friendships, work relationships, and raves.
Hannah divulges her self-doubt and insecurities to the crowd, and it becomes clear that years of feeling uncomfortable, out of place and weird have pointed her in the direction of becoming a sheep. It’s no longer a wacky concept she’s created, instead it’s a result of lifelong experience. In an hour, Hannah manages to capture a sense of belonging in the crowd, and you see the character realise that maybe it’s normal to not feel normal. Words to live by.
Ruth Berkoff appeared at the Women in Comedy Festival in Manchester. For more information on The Beauty of Being Herd, click here.
