Chimerica

Overview

You know the photo. The day after the Tiananmen Square massacre, a single protester, shopping bags in hand, stands in front of a column of tanks, bringing them to a standstill. It is arguably one of the defining images of the 20th century, yet its subject remains an enigma. Later this month, STC delves into the mystery of 'Tank Man's' identity and the difficult topic of US-China relations with Lucy Kirkwood's Chimerica.

Director Kip Williams describes the play as a "detective story" which uses the events at Tiananmen as its jumping-off point. The play tells the story of Joe (Helpmann Award winner Mark Leonard Winter), a photojournalist who witnessed the protests in China. Twenty years later, he receives word from a contact that Tank Man could still be alive. As Joe begins his search, the United States and China, whose relationship till this point has been limited to tense formality and diplomatic argy-bargy, threatens to escalate into open conflict.

With recent political developments being what they are, Chimerica is the perfect chance to brush up on your geopolitics before things start to get interesting in the South China Sea.

Images: Brett Boardman — Mark Leonard Winter, Brent Hill and Jason Chong in Sydney Theatre Company's Chimerica.