Blur's Damon Albarn writing, performing in musical about Queen Elizabeth I advisor

File this under "weird yet strangely interesting projects," just ahead of Jay-Z's collaboration with Coldplay: via Pitchfork, Blur frontman Damon Albarn is prepping a new opera, Doctor Dee, about John Dee, advisor and astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I (and spy!). Albarn will also perform in the piece. According to the BBC, the opera will premiere at the Manchester International Festival in July, where Bjork will also be showing off some new work, and then become part of London's Cultural Olympiad program ahead of next year's Summer Olympics. Albarn previously worked, Monkey: Journey To The West, which was co-written by Albarn's Gorillaz cohort Jamie Hewlett and debuted at the 2007 Manchester International Festival. No word on what role Albarn will play but here's hoping the producers will bring in the "Coffee And TV" milk carton to co-star.