Beatrice Brooke Herford (13 October 1867 – 18 July 1952) was an American actress, diseuse[1] and vaudeville performer born in England.

In 1895, she made her public debut at the Salle Érard in London, when she was said to be "the first female soloist to write and perform her own monologues as a one-person show",[2] receiving favorable reviews.

For over 30 years, her tiny theatre was open only to her friends, who performed for each other, often taking roles they would never have essayed in their public personas as stars of the legitimate stage.

Her theatre is a Massachusetts historical site and houses a notable collection of theater memorabilia and photographs, in addition to remaining in vibrant and active use as the home of the Vokes Players.

The material shows her to be an artistic pioneer and a precursor to such renowned monologists as Ruth Draper, Lily Tomlin, and Whoopi Goldberg.

In recent years, the Vokes Players have undertaken a public campaign to restore the collection of historic photographs, many of them inscribed to Hayward and Herford by visiting artists, scholars, and celebrities.

Rosina Vokes and Beatrice Herford came from the same region of England, performed in the same theaters early in their careers, and became lifelong friends.