IMITATIONS
Riverside Studios
★★★★
“funny, tender, and occasionally uncomfortable”
Anna Ticehurst makes an impressively assured playwriting debut with Imitations, a sharp, tender comedy-drama transferring to Riverside Studios following a sold-out London run.
Set over the course of a single evening in a Manchester flat, the play follows Bea, whose quiet night takes an unexpected turn when her childhood best friend, Frank, arrives unannounced. This surprise visit sends the pair down a winding path of memory lane, where old recollections resurface and long-buried truths begin to emerge.
The production opens with a comical and grounding capture of how people sporadically try meditation in the middle of a life crisis. Bea’s entrance immediately displays a touch of teenage rebellion before Frank arrives, instantly establishing a palpable tension of unsaid words.
Bea presents as a character trying just a little too hard to project a fierce, woke feminism, immediately revealing a deep layer of denial beneath the surface as she attempts to maintain constant nuance.
Both actors display exceptionally strong emotions that fill the theatre effortlessly. Bea constantly switches from normal conversation to erratic behaviour, showcasing flawless acting skills through Anna Ticehurst’s compelling performance.
Ten minutes in, her underlying self-loathing begins to bubble to the surface. While Bea is outwardly expressive, Gregor Roach’s performance as Frank brilliantly conveys how his internal struggles trickle out, particularly his anxiety around partying. Frank clearly knows her limits and understands her intimately.
About thirty percent into the show, the characters are visibly dancing around an invisible elephant in the room, keeping the audience thoroughly intrigued. Directed by Lilly Butcher, the fast-moving dramatic scenes keep viewers on their toes as the plot navigates multiple compelling directions.
The bond between them feels almost sibling-like in its inevitability. While Frank continues to dance around his own emotions, internal confusion, and difficulty accepting love, the narrative shifts from something initially perceived as Bea’s fault to actions of his own. When the major plot twist drops, the audience is left stunned; the lingering silence in the theatre before the show concludes gives viewers essential space to unpack every emotion and piece everything together.
The creative team grounds the emotional weight effectively, featuring clean and evocative set design by Fin Atkin. Imitations is a captivating and thought-provoking examination of how friends can help each other by talking through their issues, told through humour and heart.
It is a funny, tender, and occasionally uncomfortable exploration of mental health and loneliness that is well worth catching during its autumn run.
IMITATIONS
Riverside Studios
Reviewed on 15th September 2026
by Katherine Gannon
Photography by Laura Braithwaite
