Londoners Magazine

Like 16th century Chinese literature? Love opera? Adore Damon Albarn? If you answered yes to one or more of the above, you’re in luck. Monkey: Journey To The West, the Oriental opera by Albarn along with director Chen Shi-Zheng and Gorillaz animator Jamie Hewlett, is making its London debut next month.

The opera, adapted from Wu Chen’en’s novel Journey To The West (one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature), will be showing at the Royal Opera House between July 23 and 26.

Albarn composed the music, with lyrics by Shi-Zheng. Hewlett was responsible for set and costume design, as well as contributing animation and artwork in his trademark “massive mouth, tiny nose” style.

The show has seemingly been everywhere but London since its premiere at the Manchester International Festival last year, but it’s finally here, complete with over 40 Chinese acrobats, martial artists and singers, and a full orchestra making use of both Western and traditional Chinese instruments. Wowee zowee.

For more information, and to book tickets, head to the Royal Opera House website.