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Gorillaz team to revive Monkey

Gorillaz

Gorillaz

The band tackle a Chinese legend

Gorillaz are set to revive a Chinese literary classic at the Manchester International Festival in 2007.

The band have joined together with acrobats, martial arts performers and singers for a fresh interpretation of a Chinese legend – and also marks the first commission for next year’s event.

‘Monkey: Journey to the West’ will be a brand new circus production and will receive its global premiere on June 28, 2007 in Manchester.

Set to a musical score by Damon Albarn and a visual setting designed by Jamie Hewlett – the Gorillaz mainmen - ‘Monkey…’ will also feature Shaolin Monks and singers from the Peking Opera.

Written and directed by Chinese theatre director, Chen Shi-Zheng, the production is based on the story of the Monkey King and is co-produced by Manchester International Festival, Théâtre du Châtelet Paris and Berliner Staatsoper den Linden.

A new version of 1980s cult TV show ‘Monkey’ is currently being broadcast in the east and is set to return to British screens later this year.

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