World Premiere of Lucy Kirkwood's CHIMERICA Set for the Almeida, May 17-June 29

In an Almeida and Headlong co-production, Lyndsey Turner will direct the world premiere of Lucy Kirkwood's Chimerica from 17 May – 29 June 2013, with press night on 23 May. Designs are by Es Devlin with lighting by Tim Lutkin and sound by Carolyn Downing. Casting for Chimerica will be announced shortly.

Tiananmen Square, 1989. As tanks roll through Beijing and soldiers hammer on his hotel door, Joe – a young American photojournalist – captures a piece of history. In New York, 2012 Joe is covering a presidential election, marred by debate over cheap labour and the outsourcing of American jobs to Chinese factories. When a cryptic message is left in a Beijing newspaper, Joe is driven to discover the truth behind the unknown hero he captured on film. Who was he? What happened to him? And could he still be alive?

Lucy Kirkwood's plays are The Small Hours, co–written with Ed Hime for Hampstead Theatre, Beauty and The Beast for The National Theatre, Bloody Wimmin for the Tricycle's Women, Power and Politics season, It Felt Empty When the Heart Went at First But It is Alright Now for Clean Break Theatre Company at the Arcola, Guns or Butter for The Union Theatre Terror Festival, Psychogeography and Tinderbox for the Bush Theatre an Grady Hot Potato for Bedlam Theatre. Kirkwood adapted Hedda Gabler for the Gate Theatre and has written for C4's Skins. Her play NSFW opens at the Royal Court later this month, directed by Simon Godwin.

Lyndsey Turner's Royal Court production of Posh completed its run in the West End in August this year and her production of Philadelphia, Here I Come! ran at the Donmar Warehouse early this year. Turner's other productions for the Royal Court include Contractions, A Miracle and Our Private Life. She is Associate Director at Sheffield Theatres where her work includes Alice and The Way of the World. Her other theatre credits include Edgar And Annabel and There Is A War for The National Theatre, Joseph K and Nocturnal for the Gate, My Romantic History for Traverse, Bush, Sheffield Theatres and The Lesson for the Arcola.

Headlong returns to The Almeida Theatre following the critically acclaimed 2008 co-production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. The collaboration will continue in autumn 2013 with a new co-production – the World Premiere of American Psycho, with book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. American Psycho will be directed by Rupert Goold and produced in association with David Johnson and Jesse Singer at Act 4 Entertainment. Further details will be announced next spring when the show goes on sale.

Headlong is one of the UK's leading theatre companies. Led by award-winning Artistic Director Rupert Goold, Headlong is dedicated to new ways of making theatre, collaborating with the most exciting and adventurous theatre artists in the country and providing them with the time, resources and creative support to allow them to make their most challenging work. Previous work include The Effect and Earthquakes in London at The National Theatre, DECADE at St Katharine Docks and the multi award-winning ENRON at the Royal Court, in the West End and on Broadway.

The Almeida Theatre is located at Almeida Street, Islington, London, N1 1TA. The Almeida Cafe-Bar is open from 11.30am -11.00pm, Monday to Saturday.

Box Office Phone 020 7359 4404 (10am – 7.30pm). On line www.almeida.co.uk. In person 10.00am – 7.30pm, Monday – Saturday. Preview prices £8 - £26, concessions available after press night price £8 - £32, concessions available. Day seats (2 per person) will go on sale at 11am on day of performance, in person from Box Office for all performances post press night. Islington First (if you live or work in Islington) £20, check box office for dates. Under 30s £16 for Monday performances.

Regular performances are Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm, Saturday matinees at 2.30pm, Press Nights at 7pm. Extra matinee Wednesday matinee performances at 2.30pm. Chimerica – 5 and 19 June 2013. Priority Booking for Almeida Members opens on 30 October with public booking opening on 13 November 2012. Captioned performance 11 June 2013 at 7.30pm. Audio Described performance by VocalEyes 22 June 2013 at 2.30pm, Touch Tour at 1pm.

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