Chimerica (play)

Chimerica is a 2013 play by the British dramatist Lucy Kirkwood directed by Lyndsey Turner. It draws its title from the term Chimerica, referring to the predominance of China and America in modern geopolitics. It premiered at the Almeida Theatre from 20 May 2013 to 6 July 2013, in a production co-produced with Headlong^[1] before transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre.^[2]

Cast

Actor[3]	Character(s)[3]
Claudie Blakley	Tessa Kendrick
Stephen Campbell Moore	Joe Schofield
Elizabeth Chan	Liuli/Jennifer
Vera Chok / Wendy Kweh	Michelle/Mary Chang/Deng
Karl Collins	David Barker/Peter Rourke/Paul Kramer/Officer Hyte
Trevor Cooper	Frank/Herb/Drug Dealer
Nancy Crane	Doreen/Maria Dubiecki/Judy
Sean Gilder	Mel Stanwick
Sarah Lam	Feng Meihui/Ming Xiaoli
Andrew Leung	Young Zhang Lin/Benny
David K S Tse	Zhang Wei/Wang Pengsi
Benedict Wong	Zhang Lin
Rosie Armstrong	Ensemble/Understudy for Tessa Kendrick, Doreen, Maria Dubiecki, Judy
Tina Chiang	Ensemble/Understudy for Liuli, Jennifer, Michelle, Mary Chang, Deng, Feng Meihui, Ming Xiaoli
Christopher Hollinshead	Ensemble/Understudy for Joe Schofield
Math Sams	Ensemble/Understudy for David Barker, Peter Rourke, Paul Kramer, Officer Hyte, Frank, Herb, Drug Dealer, Mel Stanwick
Kevin Shen	Ensemble/Understudy for Zhang Lin, Young Zhang Lin, Benny, Zhang Wei, Wang Pengsi

Reception

The Almeida production was described in one review^[4] as 'fluent and seductive', with a 'filmic quality', with the multiple set changes well-handled.

Lucy Kirkwood won an Evening Standard Award for Best Play and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play.

References

1. "Chimerica | Almeida Theatre, London". Almeida.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
2. "Chimerica, Harold Pinter Theatre". Ambassador Theatre Group. Retrieved 7 Oct 2013.
3. Chimerica Programme. London: Almeida Theatre. 2013.
4. Henry Hitchings (2013-05-29). "Chimerica, Almeida Theatre - theatre review - Theatre - Going Out". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 2013-10-13.