Grandage Succeeds Mendes as Donmar's DirectorDate: 22 January 2002
Michael Grandage, always the bookies' favourite, has today been confirmed as the man to succeed Sam Mendes as the artistic director of London's esteemed Donmar Warehouse. Already an associate director at the Donmar, Grandage will take over leadership of the 250-seat theatre in December 2002, when Mendes departs. The six months prior to that - which overlaps with the Donmar's 10th anniversary season since its re-opening under Mendes and executive producer Caro Newling - will serve as a handover period.
A former actor, Grandage has established a formidable directing reputation since turning to the field full-time in 1995. At the Donmar, where he's been an associate director (along with David Leveaux and John Crowley) since 2000, his acclaimed productions have included CP Taylor's Good (with Charles Dance), Peter Nichols' Passion Play and last year's multi award-winning UK premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along.
The current Donmar production - Peter Nichols' wartime comedy Privates on Parade, just nominated for three Laurence Olivier Awards - is another Grandage offering. Coincidentally, at tonight's performance, the director will be conducting an exclusive Q&A session to a large Whatsonstage.com-hosted party attending as part of our monthly Group Outings.
Grandage's other recent productions have taken in many originated at the Sheffield Crucible, where he is also an associate director. These include As You Like It (with Victoria Hamilton), Edward II (with Joseph Fiennes), Don Juan (with Tom Hollander) and, coming up in March, Richard III (with Kenneth Branagh). Grandage will continue his relationship with the Crucible after taking over the directorship at the Donmar.
Sam Mendes announced in November 2001 that he would be leaving the Donmar after steering it to international acclaim over the past decade. The director, whose film debut American Beauty swept the Oscars two years ago, will set up an independent film and theatre production company. During his time at the theatre, Mendes has attracted big name stars - most famously Nicole Kidman who stripped off in his production of The Blue Room and who is due to return later this year in a classical double bill - in a catalogue of award-winning premieres and American imports.
Mendes today applauded the choice of his successor, saying of Grandage: "His contribution to the Donmar as associate director in the past two years has been of inestimable value and established him as one of the country's leading directors. His inspired programming of the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield and his productions there have further proved his tremendous talent and his commitment to running a building. This combination bodes extremely well for the future of the Donmar Warehouse."
Grandage himself added: "I'm very excited to be taking over from Sam. The Donmar is a unique theatre and has a highly committed team of people working behind the scenes. It has rightly achieved its world-wide reputation for excellence over the last ten years and I'm looking forward to taking it into the next stage of its development."
- by Terri Paddock
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