Imaginary Friends – Unity Theatre

As part of his current 2025 tour, award-winning writer and director Daniel Bye’s “Imaginary Friends” opened at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool on April 3rd.

The show seamlessly transitions from a lively and engaging comedic introduction to a deep connection with the audience. Bye expertly constructs a nuanced framework that resists easy classification into a single genre. Embracing his identity as a TV comedian, the show starts in a traditional yet captivating manner, featuring a solitary figure, a microphone, and sharp observational humour that immediately draws the audience in. Bye begins with a trigger warning that the performance includes themes of grief and loss, toxic masculinity, the end of the world, profanity, and Piers Morgan. Throughout the show, he introduces imaginary friends Eamon Holmes, Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, and the aforementioned Piers Morgan in various roles.

Bye captivates the mixed-age audience as he portrays a TV comic navigating the profound and complicated emotions associated with the recent loss of his brother. Over the next hour, as his imaginary friends become increasingly vocal, he invites the audience to join him in his internal struggle, grappling with the weight of his grief and the accompanying guilt that clings to him like a dark shadow. In a particularly poignant moment, Bye dismisses the nagging voice of his deceased brother while sitting on a stark hospital bench, only to find him increasingly besieged by a cacophony of louder, more assertive voices echoing around him. As these voices amplify, they drive him toward increasingly extravagant publicity stunts and extreme forms of activism. Yet, amidst this chaos, he mutters a half-hearted apology, leaving the audience to ponder the complexities of his remorse.

What ensues is a thought-provoking and multifaceted exploration that highlights the necessity of carefully choosing which voices we allow to resonate in our lives. “Imaginary Friends” emerges as a whirlwind experience, offering an astute analysis of comedy as a genre. The raw, unpolished quality of the performance encapsulates a deeply human essence, reminding us of our shared imperfections. However, it’s important to note that this piece may not be for everyone. If you are seeking light-hearted escapism, this play may not align with your expectations. Conversely, for those who resonate with its emotional depth and complexity, this performance will undoubtedly linger in your thoughts long after the final bow.

The show begins when Bye’s character spots a man standing on the roof of a tall building, seemingly about to commit suicide. This character turns out to be Piers Morgan, who appears throughout the show.

Subsequently, we see the appearance of Nigel Farage, who, with Morgan’s encouragement, is kidnapped as a punishment for his policy on immigration.

As the show progresses, Bye finds himself as a passenger on a London tube train when American actress Mickey Maddison suffers an alleged assault by Russell Brand. While the other passengers ignore the event, imaginary friend Morag encourages Bye to intervene, which ultimately results in his hospitalization.

The penultimate scene in this unfolding story explores the role of AI in potentially bringing about the end of the world, suggesting that the Earth would be better off without humans. Unfortunately, this scenario is interrupted by a 15-minute interval, impacting the continuity of the narrative. It becomes challenging to pick up the thread and understand how Nigel Farage and Piers Morgan fit into this aspect of the story.

Fortunately, the final scene wraps up the narrative neatly. Bye’s life mirrors Morgan’s suicide on a tall building, and it is both Morgan’s and his brother’s voices that help Bye’s character wrestle with the question of whether people are intrinsically good or bad.

“Imaginary Friends” is an exhilarating experience that compels deep reflection while provoking laughter and discomfort in equal measure. As Bye grapples with his tenuous grip on reality and confronts the stark awareness of his own mortality, he intricately weaves a poignant motif of falling, exploring what it truly means to allow others to witness our vulnerabilities and humanity. Throughout this artistic journey, Bye graciously invites the audience into the visceral experience of his own descent, crafting a narrative that is both mesmerizing and profoundly heartfelt.

This small, intimate theatre serves as the perfect backdrop for the compelling performance of “Imaginary Friends.” The carefully crafted lighting by Katherine Williams and sound design by Ziad Jabero enrich the experience, enhancing the heartfelt emotions brought to life on stage.

Reviewer: Kevin Eccleston 

Reviewed: 3rd April 2025

North West End UK Rating: