Monkey: Journey to the West, The O2 Arena, London

Monkey's journey to the West has also been a journey south. Damon Albarn's Chinese extravaganza opened at Manchester's Palace Theatre, then proceeded to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and is now having a season in Greenwich. The latest venue, actually a massive tent next to the O2, is the best, and not just for the marvellous sightlines. The previous venues, because of the words "opera" and "theatre" in their names, gave too precise and perhaps limiting expectations of this show. It is a real multimedia experience.

For his version of the old Chinese fable of the monkey king's quest for immortality, Albarn has linked up with his Gorillaz partner Jamie Hewlett, who is responsible for the striking design, animation and costumes. His absorbing, imaginative visuals are on a giant screen, and the stage in front of it sees a dizzying combination of circus skills, contortions, flying, ballet and martial arts. It could be Disneyesque, and in one dream-like scene set underwater nearly is, but then the mysticism and intensity that pervade the show take it to a different level.

Albarn's score is played by an orchestra using both Western and Chinese instruments, and has moments of genuine emotion, complementing the vulnerability and mood changes of Cao Jiangtao's Monkey King. The one problem is the translations from Mandarin. They are quite lengthy, and on screens at the side, so one has to turn one's head away from the action. After a while I stopped bothering, though I regretted this when I did glance over, and read memorable pieces of Chinese philosophy such as: "Take care to govern your spirit and your sperm."

You can't argue with that.

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