Walpole: Tell us about the history of your brand?
Silvia Melchior: In the 1960s, Donald Albery formed Donmar Productions (amalgamating his first name and his wife’s second name, Margaret) and purchased what would become the Donmar Warehouse in London. Over the next 3 decades, it was a rehearsal space for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and housed the RSC studio productions.
In 1989, the theatre was purchased by Roger Wingate and began a major renovation to be the Donmar as we know it today. In 1990, Sam Mendes was invited to take up residency as Artistic Director and opened the refurbished theatre in 1992. Productions included Cabaret with Alan Cumming, Company with Adrian Lester, and Uncle Vanya, Twelfth Night, and The Blue Room with Nicole Kidman.
Michael Grandage became Artistic Director in 2002. Productions under his tenure included Frost/Nixon, Mary Stuart with Harriet Walter and Janet McTeer, Proof with Gwyneth Paltrow, Ian McKellen in The Cut, and Eddie Redmayne and Alfred Molina in Red. A production of King Lear with Derek Jacobi marked the first time NT Live was broadcast from a venue other than the National Theatre. Following this, in 2012 Josie Rourke and Kate Pakenham were appointed as Artistic Director and Executive Director; the first all-female leadership team of a major London theatre.
Michael Longhurst took over as Artistic Director in March 2019, joined by Executive Director Henny Finch. Productions included Kit Harington in Henry V and Macbeth with David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, and Best New Musical Olivier nominees The Band’s Visit and Next to Normal (also West End). During the pandemic, the Donmar produced Blindness with Juliet Stevenson which toured the world reopening theatres during 2020.
Tim Sheader became the Artistic Director of the Donmar, and joint CEO alongside Henny Finch, in March 2024. His first season included The Fear of 13 and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, JB Priestley’s When We Are Married, and an acclaimed revival of Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel.
What is your organisation best known for?
The Donmar is an independent non-profit theatre in London’s Covent Garden, where anyone with a passion or curiosity for seriously good theatre belongs. In our powerfully intimate space, we make vivid theatre that transports. Our audience doesn't sit in the dark; they lean into the light. You’ll want to be in the room and in the moment.
We’re intent on making sure theatre thrives for the next generation by inviting in new younger audiences, inspiring original voices and building the workforce of the future. We’re grateful for the loyalty and generosity of our many donors and supporters who share our commitment to making this happen.
What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?
The quality of acting talent made available to audiences within our intimate auditorium is what makes us stand out. The 1992 production of Sondheim’s Assassins marked the musical's British premiere. Directed by Sam Mendes, this critically acclaimed production helped reopen the Donmar under his leadership and featured a cast including Henry Goodman, who won an Olivier Award for his role.
The Donmar produced definitive productions including Coriolanus with Tom Hiddleston, the all-female Shakespeare Trilogy led by Harriet Walter, and James Graham’s play The Vote which was broadcast live on More4 on the night of the 2015 election.
We are very proud that several recent Donmar shows have enjoyed successful transfers to theatres in the West End, Broadway, and beyond. This includes Next to Normal and Macbeth, which both transferred to the West End and were released in cinemas and streaming services worldwide. The Donmar’s acclaimed productions of The Cherry Orchard and The Maids both transferred to St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York, USA. Also in 2026, a new production of The Fear of 13, which had its world premiere at the Donmar in October 2024, opened on Broadway in March with Adrien Brody, in association with the Donmar Warehouse.
Why do you love the organisation?
We create the highest quality theatre in our intimate space. You can’t get a theatrical experience quite like it anywhere other than the Donmar.
Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?
The Donmar is a prestigious destination for actors who love performing so close to audiences, and we work with world-leading directors, designers and creative teams. Some of the greatest British directors have been at the helm of the Donmar, beginning with Sam Mendes and Michael Grandage, to our current Artistic Director Tim Sheader.
What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?
We want the work we do to have an impact on the creative sector, and we are best positioned to do this when we align ourselves with exceptional luxury partners who share our values. Walpole is a brilliant conduit to helping us to expand our reach and increase our profile beyond our traditional audiences.
If you could collaborate with another Walpole member, which one would you choose?
Walpole has outstanding access to luxury brands. We would be particularly interested in collaborating with members who share our strong core values of artistic excellence and creative integrity that provides the platform for the world’s leading artists to create their best work. As a theatre, we would be keen to explore connections within design, hospitality and clothing sectors.
We are very proud to be working with a number of Walpole’s current members, one of which being Gusbourne, our press night sponsor for the past few years.
Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months?
May saw us start rehearsals for an edge of your seat thriller The Guilty, with Russell Tovey making his long awaited Donmar return, directed by Punchdrunk’s visionary Felix Barrett. This production will also feature innovative sound and set design from Gareth Fry and Alex Eales.
Following that, Lyndsey Turner returns to the Donmar for Brian Friel’s reworking of Turgenev’s most famous play, A Month in The Country – a sweeping summer romance. Later this year Ilford Boy, directed by Donmar Artistic Director Tim Sheader, and written by Danny Lee Wynter, is a funny, moving drama about the ghosts that follow us, the families we choose, and the Streisand that helps us survive.
donmarwarehouse.com
