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Archival description
Romeo and Juliet
RAD/2/MAC/3/1/38 · File · 1965-2010
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

Kenneth MacMillan created the three-act ballet Romeo and Juliet for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 9.2.1965 at the Royal Opera House, London, UK. The ballet was created on the young dancers Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable but the first night was danced by Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. The ballet has subsequently been performed by ballet companies all over the world. The material for the 1965 production by The Royal Ballet comprises:

  1. Five typed pages, four of Cast Biographies (compiled from Shakespeare's play by Mary Miller) and one of the action of the entire story that takes place over four days. Undated
  2. Three typed pages of Cast Biographies (Taken from the play by Mary Miller) with slight differences to the above. With Deborah handwritten in pencil top right of first page. Undated
  3. 33 telegrams wishing good luck for the first night and congratulations on the success of the ballet. 8.2.1965 (1), 9.2.1965 (30), 10.2.1965 (1), 18.2.1965 (1)
  4. One handwritten letter from Mary (Miller) to Kenneth MacMillan wishing him great success
  5. One typed letter from Lord Drogheda, Chair of the Board of Directors at the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan, complaining about two pieces in the Sunday Telegraph, praising Romeo and Juliet and suggesting possible composers for his next work including Benjamin Britten and Hans Werner Henze, 14.2.1965
  6. One photocopy of a telegram from David Webster, General Administrator at the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan reporting the unprecedented number of curtain calls for the second cast of Romeo and Juliet in New York, Christopher Gable and Lynn Seymour, 23.4.1965
  7. Two typed letters from Tony and Julie (Andrews) in New York expressing their admiration, 23.4.1965
  8. Handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan, with comments on an unknown Juliet's performance. On Northern Ballet Theatre stamped envelope, postmarked 20.1.1989
  9. 10 black and white photocopies of costume designs with the character and dancers' names written on, and some handwritten notes from Kenneth MacMillan (large). The character of Romeo is to be danced by [Derek] Deane who danced the role in the 1970s
    Material for the 2010 production by the ballet company of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy, comprises:
  10. 44 colour copies of costume designs by Odette Nicoletti
  11. Eight colour copies of set designs by Mauro Carosi
  12. A ring bound volume of plastic front cover, title page and 13 pages, showing the scenery and scene changes
MacMillan, Kenneth