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Virgin 'goes monkey'

Friday 01 June, 2007

Virgin Trains has painted one of its Pendolinos in recognition of the forthcoming release of Monkey: Journey to the West, it has emerged.

The train, which travels between London and Manchester on four occasions every day, now features 90 characters from the production which is being held as part of the Manchester International Festival.

Among the performers within the product include the UK Chinese Music Ensemble, Shaolin monks and 45 acrobats from China.

"For centuries, the epic tale of the Monkey King’s journey of enlightenment has been an omnipresent part of Chinese culture, delighting young and old with its heady mix of adventure, mystery and magic," said the Manchester International Festival's website.

The theatre production has been created by Chen Shi-Zheng with Damon Albarn of Blur and is based upon a Chinese legend and recounts the fictional tale of Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk travelling to India to obtain enlightenment.

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