Herd, The

Culture, science, and commerce collide when twin white buffalo calves are born on a First Nations ranch in Saskatchewan. Are they the sign of the prophecy or the results of genetic manipulation? As crowds of pilgrims gather to witness what they hope is a miracle in action, the reserve’s veterinarian, Dr. Vanessa Brokenhorn, must do all that she can to protect her research and the twin calves.

AUTHOR

Kenneth T. Williams

Kenneth T. Williams is a Cree playwright from the George Gordon First Nation in the Treaty 4 territory. He was the first Indigenous person to earn an MFA in Playwriting and to become a professor at the University of Alberta’s Department of Drama.

The Herd had a dual world premiere at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and Tarragon Theatre in Toronto in the summer of 2021.

Previous productions include Gabriel Dumont’s Wild West Show (National Arts Centre), In Care (Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre), Cafe Daughter (Gwaandak Theatre, Workshop West Playwrights Theatre, Blyth Festival), Gordon Winter (Persephone), Thunderstick (Persephone/Theatre Network), Bannock Republic (GTNT/Persephone), and Three Little Birds (Workshop West Playwrights Theatre).

He lives in Edmonton with his partner, Dr. Melissa Stoops, and their cats, Augustus and Drusilla.

Reviews

“The audience is swept into a carefully-crafted world where percolating humour helps navigate issues of culture, spirituality, land, economics and identity spinning quickly alongside each other.” Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal

“The Herd is a powerful and topical production that resonates long after the final curtain.” Sarah Dussome, Broadway World