Sam Mendes' long-awaited musical opens

The opening night of new musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory attracted some Hollywood glamour which is a rather unusual sight for a theatre production in London's West End. But this is directed by none other than "Skyfall"'s Sam Mendes, who has been a man on a mission.

SOUNDBITE Director Sam Mendes (English) saying:

"I spent 25 years trying to get the rights for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to do on stage. When I was a student they turned me down, when I was a young director at Minerva at Chichester they turned me down, and each time I went back, it got bigger and bigger and now here we are."

SOUNDBITE Director Sam Mendes (English) saying:

"I just think there are so many wonderful theatrical possibilities, the Umpa Lumpas, the kids, the characters are so vivid, the settings are so extraordinary and then you've got Willy Wonka in the middle of it."

Mendes is reported to be returning to direct the next Bond movie as soon as he's finished up on th