Chimerica playwright Lucy Kirkwood scoops Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

Lucy Kirkwood has won this year's Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for her play Chimerica.

The prestigious $25,000 prize is awarded annually to recognise "women from around the world who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre".

Chimerica, which centres on a journalist who attempts to track down the Tiananmen Square 'tank man', premiered at the Almeida Theatre last May before transferring to the West End.

An additional $5,000 Special Commendation was awarded this year to Phoebe Waller-Bridge for her debut play Fleabag.

A presentation was made to both winners at Dartmoor House in Mayfair on Tuesday (25 February 2014).