Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse: Stepping into Freedom - Tapa blanda

The story of ten star-studded years at London's theatrical powerhouse, told from the perspective of Sam Mendes, the young unknown who made it happen. Sam Mendes's Donmar Warehouse is where Nicole Kidman appeared naked in The Blue Room, where Gwyneth Paltrow recently starred in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Proof, where Stephen Sondheim and Tom Stoppard turn up regularly to see stunning revivals of their work, and from where show after show transfers to the West End and often, like Cabaret, on to Broadway, where it is still running. In October 2002 the Donmar celebrates its tenth anniversary. Published to mark the occasion, Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse tells the story of those extraordinary years with the no-holds-barred co-operation of all involved - and particularly Mendes himself. It takes us on a thematic journey, looking at the various musicals staged there, the directors who worked there, the stars who played there, but also the flops that flopped there. Packed with photos, cast lists, and frank opinions, it is both a celebration and a tell-all account of those miraculous years - which come to an end in October 2002 when Sam Mendes hands over the reins to the new man, Michael Grandage.

Matt Wolf is London correspondent for Variety and writes regularly on theatre for several other newspapers, including The Times. His first book was The Guys and Dolls Book also published by Nick Hern.