Please note limited access and no wheelchair access to St Anne's

The Monkey's Guide to Deicide

i.e.

i.e. is a theatre company and creative collective that makes... stuff. Sometimes we act. Sometimes we sing. And, more often than not, we tell stories.

The legend of Sun Wukong - the self-proclaimed Monkey King who shakes the foundations of the Heavens and embarks on a great Journey to the West - is a wildly compelling tale with origins largely lost in the mists of time. It features demons, dragons, heroes, villains, monsters, magic, and even the Buddha himself.

And yet, the monkey steals the show. Riding a cloud, wielding a shape-changing staff and a truly absurd amount of superpowers, Sun Wukong is immortal in every sense of the word. Born from a rock and born TO rock, his popularity, rather than fade into time, has only grown over the past 500 years.

In The Monkey's Guide to Deicide, i.e. ask... why? What makes this primate so special? This unique spin on the classic tale sees mythology's hairiest rebel without a cause exploding onto the stage to remind audiences that you can't spell Revolution without Evolution.

Review by Jo Fisher 28/06/2024

What would happen if a primate took on the Gods at their own game? i.e. have the answer to this rather obscure (but valid!) question. They’re exploring power, myth, mortality, religion and humanity in their retelling of a very ancient legend, which sees a humble macaque monkey rebelling against expectations.

The Monkey’s Guide to Deicide is a show with true home-grown Fringe style. Playfulness comes to us in abundance in the form of a multitude of creative storytelling techniques, from song and puppetry to masks and carefully chosen voiceovers from nature documentaries.

Those without prior knowledge of the myth referenced in the blurb – I include myself in this category (sorry i.e.!) – have nothing to fear. You don’t need to be familiar with the original tale to enjoy this unruly version, which celebrates all things mutinous, and explores who might really be to blame for this turbulent and damaged world in which we live.

The songs that pepper the performance are a highlight, with their witty and well-observed lyrics, alongside utterly charming shadow puppetry.

I am sure that if macaques could wear clothes, a rock ‘n’ roll leather jacket would absolutely be a staple in their wardrobe. They are, it transpires through this performance, the James Dean of the animal world; a rebel with claws. This is an enjoyable and entertaining show that playfully takes on the human, animal and underworlds.