Gorillaz' Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are planning an adaptation of a Chinese literary classic for next year's Manchester International Festival.
The pair have been commissioned to collaborate with a group of martial artists, singers and acrobats for the circus production, 'Monkey: Journey to the West', which will premiere on 28 Jun 2007. Shaolin monks and Peking opera singers are set to appear in the collaboration, which will feature a musical score from Albarn and set design from Hewlett. It is to be written and directed by Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng.
And if you're wondering why the title 'Monkey: Journey To The West' sounds vaguely familiar, yes, the Albarn/Hewlett show is to be adapted from the same source as cult TV show 'Monkey' (Pig was my favourite), which, it transpires, is to return to its rightful place on our TV screens later this year.