Chimerica, a play by Lucy Kirkwood that premiered in 2013, explores the relationship between China and America following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest. Chimerica is a portmanteau of the words "China" and "America" that sounds similar to the chimera, a mythical creature formed of a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. The term, coined by historian Niall Ferguson and economist Moritz Schularick, emphasizes the symbiotic nature of China and America's politics and economies.
Kirkwood was first approached to write the play in 2006; she claims to have spent over 100,000 hours working on the play. First premiering in 2013 at the Almeida Theatre in London before transferring to the West End Harold Pinter Theatre, Chimerica consists of five acts and thirty-nine scenes, forming an ambitious over-three-hour runtime. The play premiered in the United States in 2015, Canada in 2016, and Australia in 2017. In 2019, Channel 4 released a four-part drama series inspired by the play and adapted by Kirkwood herself.
Initially directed by Lyndsey Turner, Chimerica incorporates elements of comedy, romance, and thriller. Critics praised the "virtually empty," "flexible" stage design that hosts "surreal" scenes that jump through different time periods.
The story follows Joe Schofield, a photojournalist who, in 1989, took the infamous photo of Tank Man, an anonymous protestor in Tiananmen Square, standing in front of a line of tanks during the 1989 demonstrations in Beijing. In 2012, Joe works for New York magazine, where he learns that Tank Man is still alive and residing in the United States. This information prompts his search to uncover the man's identity and connect.
While criticizing its lengthy run time, critics praised Chimerica's subtle approach to topical issues, like censorship and national hypocrisy, and its "interwoven clutch of mysteries." American critics also cited stereotypical portrayals of American arrogance and Chinese nationals as weak points. Chimerica won several awards, including the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, five Olivier Awards, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.
