Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlitt contribute to Chinese Monkey opera spectacular.
The brains behind the Gorillaz project have collaborated with noted Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng, the Theatre Du Chatelet and the Manchester International Festival on a new multimedia opera/circus event called 'Monkey: Journey To The West'.The extravaganza tells a story which some might recognise from the cult Japanese 'Monkey' television show. Hewlitt and Albarn provide the soundtrack and various animations for the cross-discipline stage show, which includes acrobatic elements and opera. The show features Chinese acrobats, Shaolin monks and Chinese vocalists, the UK Chinese Music Ensemble and is a co-produced with the Berlin State Opera.
Reviews have been glowing, the Guardian describing the production as akin to "The Lord Of The Rings being done by the Chinese State Circus in the style of House Of Flying Daggers." It has also been a commercial success so far, the subtitles not scaring away a younger audience probably not as familiar with Chinese opera as they are with Albarn and Hewlitt's fictitious band.
