Colourful scenes, splendid animations, wonderful music…Monkey: Journey to the West led me to a new world of Chinese culture. As a Chinese person, I have known the story since a young age. It tells the tale of the journey of Monkey's quest for redemption and enlightenment as he accompanies the monk Tripitaka who has for mission to bring the sacred Buddhist scrolls back from India.

Monkey: Journey to the West is a much lauded contemporary opera narrated like a comic. Nine stories are told through nine scenes, composing the whole journey. The characters such as a Mongolian Kung Fu pig, a singing starfish, volcano soldiers and skeleton demons are performing on stage with cartoon-style costumes. Since it is a journey in the East to the West, the show also features numerous Chinese performing arts including acrobat, silk dance, contortion and martial arts, and the opera is performed in Mandarin.

As says the character Sandy: “Although we sing Chinese in the show, we express more by our emotion, together with the stage design, the music. Language is not the only form of expression.”

Monkey: Journey to the West is the work of three talented artists. The adaptation of Journey to the West into a contemporary opera is the idea of its director, Chen Shi-Zheng. The show's graphics, animated video projection, stage settings and costume design are the creation of Jamie Hewlett, famed for his Tank Girl characters. The score was composed by ex-Blur and Gorillaz star Damon Albarn, and is performed by a mixed orchestra of Western and Chinese instruments.

“I need some new elements to express the spirit”, says Director Chen. “British pop music is great. Rock and roll can express the monkey’s resistive and naughty personality. Animation is the most welcomed artistic form for children. I would like to see more kids among the audiences, but everyone can find intrigue for them.”

Over 100,000 people in England, the US and France have already experienced the magic of Monkey: Journey to the West in Manchester, Paris, Charleston and London. This time Monkey: Journey to the West comes out of the theatre’s traditional setting and arrives at Monkey's World, a bespoke tent, at the O2 Arena. Inspired by the show, the interior is designed by the Monkey team featuring red lanterns, dragon pillars, bamboo, and beautiful drawings of the characters. The tent is also equipped of a bar, a restaurant, a foot massage parlour and a VIP after-show area.

The spectacular show entertains rather than providing indepth insight into the Chinese legend. Nevertheless, the fantastic animation, the stage settings and the music produce something magical and enchanting,

and will be a great choice for a family night out in the pre-Christmas period.

For western audiences, this is a great introduction to Chinese culture, and represents an excellent collaboration between British and Chinese artists.

For a chance to win one of five copies of the acclaimed sound track, please email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it before 1 December to sign up to Dimsum's mailing list.

Tickets for Monkey: Journey to the West are on sale now and are available online at www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com or from Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1665 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk for shows until 5th December 2008.

Karen Tao

 

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benny hill Posted 20:28 on 17 November 2008 What I interesting is the poster which depicts the all the chinese with slanted eyes, but its obviously not meant to be offensive because its the context that matters. Reply | Quote

S Wong - Monkey Posted 19:05 on 23 November 2008 A very enjoyable afternoon of kaleidoscope of kung fu, acrobats, bendy contortionist with artists really sitting on their own heads. Although only a few stories out of the numerous hazards encountered by the quartet in the original story, it gives a taste of the fantastic story about adventure, friendship, temptation and endurance. Reply | Quote

S.Ong - Monkey King Posted 9:43 on 8 December 2008 I was in China recently and saw video clips of this Monkey King show on CCTV 9 (Culture Express and China Now programmes). It got good Tv coverage and reviews in China after its opening night performance on 13th November 2008. I note the Monkey King show at the 02 Centre, London is now extended to end on 4th January 2009. Reply | Quote

danglory - Orientalist rubbish Posted 22:39 on 11 December 2008 This show is the worst possible kind of commercial "cashing in" on the current Chinese cultural bandwagon - overly expensive, lowest common denominator spectacle and very little substance. What a missed opportunity! An insult to real Chinese arts and culture. Reply | Quote

dimsumer - it's based on 1970s Japan Posted 3:11 on 5 June 2009 I agree with danglory's view. From the article: "For western audiences, this is a great introduction to Chinese culture", Chinese culture?This "show" is the equivlent of what "chop suey" is to real Chinese cuisines. Reply | Quote

dimsumer Posted 3:20 on 5 June 2009 I typed "it's based on 1970s Japanese TV series" in my last message but it seems to be too long to appear properly. Anyway but that's what it is, not that there's anything wrong with 1970s Japanese TV programmes. Reply | Quote

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