Massive Attack, Justice & The Avalanches scoring Melbourne's 'King Kong' musical

In June 2013, “one of the most ambitious productions to come out of Australia” is set to premiere in Melbourne. The King Kong musical is the work of Global Creatures, the Sydney-based company responsible for the Walking With Dinosaurs ‘Arena Spectacular’, and will run for 12 weeks at the Regent Theatre. Usually this wouldn’t be the kind of announcement you’d find on inthemix, but King Kong’s media launch over the weekend revealed some intriguing news.

The line-up of musical talent creating the score includes French electro trailblazers Justice, who’ve just wound up a two-week blitz of Australia on the Parklife tour, our own electronic adventurers The Avalanches and Massive Attack mastermind Robert del Naja, aka 3D. At the helm of it all is celebrated producer Marius deVries, who has worked with Bjork, The Sneaker Pimps, Massive Attack and many more over his career. In a video interview on the show’s website, Justice describe King Kong as “the perfect match for [us]. It has a very theatrical and epic feel.” A half-hour preview of the music is streaming over at the King Kong website. At around the 17-minute mark, you can hear a composition by del Naja, Colossus, sung by Adam Lyon.

The stage show will feature a giant Kong, currently being built in a Melbourne warehouse, alongside projections, an orchestral score and circus performers. Director Daniel Kramer says in the launch video: “Love and loss are at the heart of the story of King Kong…an adventure, a thriller, a musical rollercoaster. From the classical strings of the ocean waves to electronica, the drum & bass of King Kong running as his fist pounds the earth.”