Ruth Berkoff on The Beauty of Being Herd

Written by: Kat Mokrynski
Published: Monday 5th May 2025

Sheep facts, a banging rave and an emotional rollercoaster of a journey, The Beauty of Being Herd is a heartfelt comedy show with original songs about a woman who's decided to live as a sheep. Ruth Berkoff explains more.

How did you first get started in the world of comedy?

We were brought up on comedy in our house: Monty Python, Gilbert & Sullivan, Bottom. Then, in 2012, I started pursuing it seriously. (I take most things seriously. Too seriously, perhaps.)

I trained for a year at Circomedia in Bristol, then for two years with Philippe Gaulier. I loved the larger-than-life stuff, which translated perfectly into street theatre when I came back home. I learnt a lot on those streets, and then I learnt even more as the pantomime dame. It's a lot of improv, which is fun - it means every show is different.

What inspired you to create The Beauty of Being Herd?

Ultimately, I think so many of us often feel disconnected in this society (including me, if I'm honest). I wanted to make a show to explore that disconnection and make people feel less alone as a result. And if I can give the audience something that keeps them engaged and entertained for an hour then bosh! I'm happy with that. It's a special show - it's full of togetherness, both with me and with the rest of the audience, and I love that! Oh, I was also inspired by sheep. Sheep are great. Come to the show to find out why.

Can you tell us a bit about the creative process for The Beauty of Being Herd?

It started, as many things do, with a random idea. About living as a sheep. Then I wrote some monologues, made a costume, wrote some more bits, and took everything to Georgia Murphy (who co-directed Garry Starr's Classic Penguins). We played around with the ideas - improvising scenes, playing games, making up songs. A lot of it was devised. There were many post-it notes involved. My friend Isolde Lachlan created a sheep synth to make backing tracks, and the show was born. Now it's just a case of tweaking the script forever until the end of time.

How do you balance the silly concept of becoming a sheep with more serious topics like neurodiversity and social anxiety?

But becoming a sheep isn't silly! Haha. No, but in the show, it sort of makes sense. And comedy and tragedy - they're so intertwined. Like, there's always laughter at funerals. In terms of social anxiety and feeling like you don't belong - if you live with that reality, you have to laugh! Well, you don't have to, but you might as well. You know what they say - if you don't laugh, you cry. Although often I do both at the same time. Is that theatre?

What is it like to be returning to The Beauty of Being Herd for its first UK tour after its run at Manchester Fringe?

It's great! My bag is packed. It's literally splitting at the seams (they don't make them like they used to...) But yeah, I'm excited to take the show to places it's never been before, and to spread the word about the joys of sheep to the people of Brighton and Cardiff. The script is forever evolving, and I've totally rewritten a couple of the scenes so I'm looking forward to trying them out with a real life audience!

What is your favourite sheep fact you've learned while creating The Beauty of Being Herd?

There's an anecdote about a sheep that jumps off a cliff in Turkey. It's deeply tragic, but when I recount it in the show, it comes as a moment of light relief. I don't want to give too much away though.

What do you hope audiences take away from The Beauty of Being Herd?

A sense of connection with each other, and a feeling of "Ok, I'm not alone - other people feel this way too". I also hope they're in pain from laughing so much. Well, not pain exactly, more like 'sweet discomfort'.

How would you describe The Beauty of Being Herd in one word?

Uplifting.

The Beauty of Being Herd will be Brighton, Cardiff and Buxton. ruthberkoff.com