You couldn’t make it up if you tried. Take 19 Buddhist monks from the Shaolin Temple in China who specialise in kung fu, combine them with world famous sculptor Antony Gormley and leading choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and produce an epic dance piece worthy of Sadler’s Wells.

The result - Sutra - has now been seen by over 160,000 people worldwide and has been a phenomenal global success. Now on its 10th anniversary tour Sutra is coming to Oxford for the first time, something Suzanne Walker, Executive Producer is very excited about.

“It is just a very special project, and while we produce a lot of work here at Sadlers Wells this was totally unique. We wanted to think outside the box so while kung fu is the main language and you are watching the masters at work, it is an incredible spectacle and very exciting to watch.

"The Shaolin monks are the best ambassadors of their craft, because they demonstrate the movements in a positive way. They know this will be many people's first experience of Chinese culture and use it as an opportunity to bridge any cultural divides, combining our two cultures through kung fu.

"So we wanted to lock into that wonderful energy and its Buddhist philosophy by underpinning it, which results in a really beautiful and incredibly moving piece."

So how did it evolve? "Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui went to the temple and lived there while researching the piece because it was all new to him.

"He didn't want to impose a style or aesthetic on them, but to learn from them, and then knit that into a new shape and direction of work to bring a fresh perspective."

The result? An energetic, dynamic, intense dance form rarely seen before, a trailblazer that Sadlers Wells then ran with, going on to develop pieces such as Butoh with Japan and Tanguera via Argentina.

"And yet the audience doesn't know what to expect and we are proud of that," Suzanne adds, "regardless of how successful Sutra has been."

And what of the realities, practicalities, training and touring of an elite core of young Shaolin monks?

"It was a steep learning curve for them as well and took time for them to understand what we were asking.

"But once they understood the aesthetic and vibe of the piece, it all fitted into place, bringing everything together, joining the two worlds in a continual dance with some exquisite examples of martial arts."

Of course the initial team of monks have slowly been replaced with new ones over the years, but the temple is happy with the continual transferral of its finest proteges, knowing that it promotes the right ethics and spreads the word:

“We wanted everyone to experience the joys of this show, so Sutra has travelled to the far-flung corners of the globe from Japan to new York and Chile," Suzanne confirms.

"Few productions have made an impact like this, changing the art form of dance as we know it, so it has been a challenging but wonderful collaboration that we are still extremely proud of."

Sutra, New Theatre, March 23-24. atgtickets.com. 0844 8713020