Monkey Magic

04/07/07

“I've been working really hard on the show so I haven't had much time to see anything else,” says Michelle, 28, who lives in south Manchester and is working as creative director on a community song writing project based on Monkey: Journey To The West. “I got tickets to The Ground Beneath Her Feet and an exhibition about slavery, so I'm definitely going to them.”

In common with many others, however, Michelle was most impressed by Chen Zhi-Sheng, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's magical take on Monkey.

“It was like being in a dream,” she says. “The music, the acrobatics, it was incredible. It was out of the box thinking, you know? It wasn't what you'd normally expect from an opera. And the bendy women as well. Oh my God!”

Instigated by Monkey's musical director, David Culter, who knew her from her time onstage with the Demon Days gospel choir, Michelle's project involves 10 community groups of young people and adults around the city - including one with local hip hop star Raw T, a straight ahead rock band and a group of young Chinese people - writing music based on the original story.

According to Michelle: “Everyone should come and see our show at Greenroom on July 12. Because we're all Mancunian!”

That's not a good enough reason.

“And because we'll blow you away with the beauty and power of our voices!”

Okay. I'm convinced.

“And my gospel choir, the Sing Out Choir, are singing on July 11 at the pavilion. Can you mention that too?”

Sure.