Kenneth MacMillan did not renew his contract as Ballet Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin after 1969. The correspondence in this files includes letters from Gert Reinholm asking for a note to say that their relationship had nothing to do with his decision to leave, 1971-1978, a letter from Igor Kosak asking permission to dance the pas de deux from Concerto 12 Jan 1980, a letter from Gotz Friedrich asking whether Kenneth MacMillan will come and create new choreography for The Sleeping Beauty and a fax asking for permission to reuse the costumes and sets for a new production without MacMillan, 1985, a letter from Steven Scott with details of the fee payable for Anastasia, 1990, correspondence and a contract for Different Drummer, 1991, and a handwritten fax to Peter Schaufuss, Ballet Director, thanking him for releasing Leanne [Benjamin] to dance at a Gala, 1991

The material in this file consists predominantly of notes and correspondence relating to the first night, with a small amount of material in response to the opening night. Kenneth MacMillan's concept for the ballet changed significantly during the rehearsal process causing the set and costumes to be simplified. This is reflected in some of the material which comprises:

1. Two pages of handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan on yellow interdepartmental communication paper. The notes lists dancers' names and the music for different episodes with page references. Undated
2. Two page handwritten letter from Yolanda Sonnabend to Kenneth MacMillan with 'thoughts after yesterday's meeting with John [B.Read], discussing lighting and the positioning and use of the bath. Pen and ink. Undated
3. Handwritten note from Yolanda Sonnabend to Kenneth MacMillan about make up for the dancers. In pencil on yellow inter departmental communication paper. Undated
4. Typed letter from Anthony Russell-Roberts, Administrative Assisant, The Royal Ballet, to Kenneth MacMillan re rehearsal schedule. On Royal Opera House headed notepaper, 10 Oct 1983
5. Typed cast list with alternative casts, 1984/85 February
6. Typed preliminary Props List, 14 Feb 1984
7. Photocopy of music note by Paul Griffiths for the programme with covering letter to Kenneth MacMillan and photocopied inter departmental communication requesting comments. Sent by Janet Jempson, Publications department at the Royal Opera House, 30 Jan 1984. The top page has a handwritten note 'Kenneth the Music Note for "------". P.B. [Peter Brownlee] suggesting that it was sent a second time to Kenneth MacMillan
8. Typed letter from John McMurray, Publications Editor at the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan enclosing a copy of Michael Patterson's note on Buchner and Woyzeck, requesting comments. 7 Feb 1984. With photocopy of the note attached
9. Page proof of the cast list for the programme for the first performance of Different Drummer
10. Handwritten letter from Catherine Ashmore, photographer, to Kenneth MacMillan, expressing her disappointment at not being able to take the rehearsal pictures of his new ballet and thanking him for offering her the opportunity. 14 Feb 1984
11. Press cutting from Londoner's Diary in The Standard newspaper, 24 Feb 1984, reporting on the simplification of set and costumes for the ballet and suggesting a waste of funds, with photocopy of response from John Tooley, General Director of the Royal Opera House, 27 Feb 1984
12. Typed letter from John C Botts, Managing Director of Citicorp International Group, to Kenneth MacMillan, thanking him for allowing the company to participate in supporting the creation of his new ballet, 27 Feb 1984
13. Typed letter from Peter Brownlee to Kenneth MacMillan giving details of who to thank for sponsoring the ballet and the party, 27 Feb 1984
14. Typed idc from Anthony Russell-Roberts asking if 'Our President', [HRH the Princess Margaret] could sit in on a rehearsal, 3 Jan 1984

This file contains cards, notes and letters wishing Kenneth MacMillan good luck for the first night of Different Drummer, with a few congratulating him on the success of the new work. There is also a joke certificate. The material comprises:

1. Five telegrams from Ashley Lawrence, Rudolf Noureev, Misha (Mikhail Baryshnikov) and Charles, Peter Schaufuss and 'Mike (Michael Attenborough) and All At Hampstead', 23 and 24 Feb 1984
2. Eleven cards wishing Kenneth MacMillan good luck, including from Stephen Rea, David Taylor, Romayne Grigorova and Iris Law, 24 Feb 1984 and undated
3. Two handwritten notes from Michael Elliot and one from Norman Morrice, with good wishes, 24 Feb 1984
4. Two postcards and one letter praising the ballet, including from Robin Hambro of the Royal Opera House Trust, 26 Feb 1984 and undated
5. Joke certificate from The Benesh Institute of Choreology certifying that Lady MacMillan is awarded the Title Finder of the Decade Prize for Different Drummer, 10 Jan 1984

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Different Drummer for The Royal Ballet which received its premiere on 24 Feb 1984 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Material in the two files consists of notes and correspondence before the opening night, good luck telegrams and cards for the first night, and cards of congratulation. There are two pages of handwritten notes on choreographic score notation paper, mostly by Kenneth MacMillan, in pencil and black biro (large)

Photographs of the first production of Different Drummer