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EMBARGOED until Thursday 12 June 2008

Monkey: Journey to the West at the Royal Opera House

Monkey: Journey To The West will make its London debut next month, with a run at the Royal Opera House.

Monkey: Journey To The West's premiere season sold out at Manchester International Festival in 2007, which has been followed by further sell outs in Paris and the US.

Directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, with music composed by Damon Albarn, and designed by Jamie Hewlett, Monkey: Journey to the West, is a contemporary opera using nearly 40 Chinese performers including acrobats, martial artists and singers, with an orchestra combining Western and Chinese instruments.

Designer Jamie Hewlett, "Monkey is the story of the Monkey King, who believes he is better than all the Gods, wants to be a God. And basically he breaks into heaven and trashes the Peaches banquet and for his crime he is imprisoned in the mountain by Buddha". Monkey: Journey to The West tells the story of Monkey's quest for redemption and enlightenment as he accompanies the monk Tripitaka to bring the sacred Buddhist scrolls back from India.

Tickets for the Royal Opera House go on sale to the public at 2pm on Thursday 12 June. There are a number of pricing options from £10, up to a top ticket of £75, tickets are available online at www.roh.org.uk or from the ROH Box Office on 0207 304 4000.

The show dates are:

Wednesday 23 July 8.00pm
Thursday 24 July 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Friday 25 July 4pm and 8.30pm
Saturday 26 July 2.30pm and 7.30pm

June 2008
For more info, contact RMP – press@rmplondon.co.uk / +44 208 749 7999