Chimerica (Sydney Theatre Company)

Lucy Kirkwood's Chimerica explores the relationship between China and America since the notorious Tiananmen Square massacre. Flipping between 1989 and 2012 for timeline and context, the play focuses on an iconic image taken by an American photographer of a protester standing defiantly in front of oncoming tanks.

The link (and hook) is the search for the identity and fate of the 'tank man' who featured in that iconic image - a quest that knits together threads across personal and political agendas. While there are several larger cultural and philosophical questions posed by the play, these are best humanised by two key figures - the American photographer Joe Schofield (Mark Leonard Winter) and his friend, Tiananmen survivor Zhang Lin (Jason Chong).

The relationship between these two and the performances by these actors is captivating, as each man's character is subjected to the severe changes in their respective cultures over the last two decades. There are some predictable moments that near stereotypes for both the American and Chinese - highlighted by the wonderfully blunt English businesswoman Tessa Kendrick (Geraldine Hakewill). Her position as a strong woman and strong observer of culture versus ambition adds a new layer of tension to the tug of war between Joe and Zhang and the investment each still has in the events of 1989.

Sydney audiences have come to expect visual chutzpah from acclaimed director Kip Williams, but his staging of Chimerica is surely up there with the best of his work. The production's aesthetic is, quite frankly, divine, especially the choreographed drama of set changes. This may seem like a strange thing to say, but here transitions were not only functional but also incredibly powerful, showing how swiftly time can pass and how easily events can be erased without trace. There were also several chill-inducing uses of a large live chorus, with the varied broader cast providing a critical mass of voices that allowed for often transcendent political commentary through song. An inspired production peppered with dark humour.

STC presents Chimerica, til 1 Apr, at the Roslyn Packer Theatre