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An invitation and programme for a performance by The Royal Ballet in the presence of The Prime Minister [Margaret Thatcher] and Mr Denis Thatcher at the British National Day at Expo 86 in Canada, 12 Jul 1986; a programme, three tickets and a menu card for Raise the Roof Ball at the Royal Opera House, organised by members of The Royal Ballet, 21 Dec 1987; an invitation and decorative folder for British National Day as part of World Expo 88 in Australia, 5 Aug 1988

This file contains correspondence from members of The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera House management and technical teams relating to the staging of his works by The Royal Ballet. It includes letters from David Webster, John Tooley, Ninette de Valois, Frederick Ashton, John Field, John Copley and Adrian Grater. There are two contracts from the Royal Opera House for Kenneth MacMillan to create a work and to mount Concerto for The Royal Ballet, Ninette de Valois talks about working in Turkey and on seeing the film of Romeo and Juliet, Frederick Ashton sends congratulations on Concerto, thanks for performing Scenes de Ballet in Berlin, casting for Song of the Earth. There is a strongly worded letter from Kenneth MacMillan to Ninette de Valois complaining about 'the disastrous performances of my ballets in Edinburgh', tendering his resignation and enclosing press cuttings, 24 Aug 1960

The correspondence in this file is from Ninette de Valois to Kenneth MacMillan, January to October 1957. It covers the period when MacMillan was working with American Ballet Theatre as well as appearing with The Royal Ballet in Cinderella and creating new works for both companies. De Valois writes about the difficulties of making this work, sends encouragement following adverse press criticism, taking Solitaire on the US tour and casting, the difficulties of obtaining the music rights for Le Baiser de la fee, discussion with [Humphrey] Searle about possible composers, 4 Jan 1957-20 Oct 1957, n.d.

The material in these files relates primarily to Kenneth MacMillan's work as choreographer with The Royal Ballet, 1957-1969

This file contains:

1. One page schedule for 1990/91 season, with handwritten annotations by Kenneth MacMillan
2. Royal Opera House provisional rehearsal schedule, 1990/91
3. The Royal Ballet rehearsal schedule with casts and repetiteurs, Feb 1992
4. Rehearsal calls for Birmingham Royal Ballet in Birmingham, Feb 1992
5. The Royal Ballet schedule for classes, 1992/93
6. The Royal Ballet rehearsal schedule, 1992/93

This file contains:

1. Schedule for Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House as part of The Royal Ballet's 50th anniversary season, Jun 1981
2. List of ballets proposed for 'Special' programme, celebrating The Royal Ballet's 50th anniversary
3. Handwritten list of venues and dates, 1981/82
4. Handwritten schedule for regional tour, May/Jun (no year), with Kenneth MacMillan's handwritten notes
5. List of Running Times of individual ballets, Sep 1983
6. Casts for Requiem, 1983/84 season
7. List of dancers in The Royal Ballet, 1983/84 season
8. Provisional repertoire and tour schedule, 1984/85 season with idc from Anthony Russell Roberts
9. Handwritten list of Opera Ballet rehearsal calls for week commencing 10 Sep 1984, including Tannhauser
10. Royal Opera House provisional schedule, 1988/89 season
11. Handwritten castings for Romeo and Juliet, Oct 1988, with idc from Iris [Law], n.d.
12. The Royal Ballet rehearsal schedule, 1988/89 season
13. Royal Opera House provisional schedule, 1989/90
14. Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet rehearsal calls at Sadler's Wells Theatre, Dec 1989

This file contains:

1. Lists of ballets in the repertory and sets for possible sale, 1970
2. Royal Opera House provisional Schedule, Aug 1970-Jul 1971
3. The Royal Ballet season, performances and stage calls, 1970/71
4. The Royal Ballet casts for New York Season, 1976
5. Draft press release for 1976/77 season
6. Natalia Makarova scheduled performances at the Royal Opera House, Nov/Dec 1976
7. Royal Opera House provisional schedule, 1976/77
8. The Royal Ballet 1976/77 season future repertoire, with handwritten notes re casts
9. The Royal Ballet 1976/77 season future repertoire, with typed casts and handwritten notes
10. The Royal Ballet School performances, 1976/77, two typed lists with handwritten notes
11. The Royal Ballet 1976/77 season scheduled repertoire, Mar-Jul, typed with handwritten casts
12. Royal Opera House provisional repertoire, 1977/78
13. Cast list for 6.6.78, SWRB season 1978/79
14. Provisional cast for Gloria, 1979/80
15. Two copies of Royal Opera House schedule 1979/80, one with changes
16. Cast list for the Royal Ballet School performances in 1980
17. Cast list for Song of the Earth 1979/80, with annotations
18. Rehearsal calls for The Royal Ballet for week commencing 12 July (no year), with handwritten notes

Administrative correspondence and some personal notes. There is a submission to The Royal Ballet Board of Governors by David Drew, and a photocopy of a letter from Anthony Russell Roberts to HRH The Princess Margaret, about The Royal Ballet wage dispute, 1990. Peter Wilson, Honorary Secretary of The Royal Ballet Governors, sends a Royal Opera House precis of The Arts Council Appraisal and the Price Waterhouse Review, together with the Royal Opera House press statement, 1992
Correspondence includes:

1. from Jeremy Isaacs apologising for having to cancel a performance of The Prince of the Pagodas, 1990
2. a handwritten fax and 'Margot piece' with a tickets for the performance of Romeo and Juliet given as A Tribute to Dame Margot Fonteyn, 1990
3. two letters about the Queen Mother's 90th birthday tribute, with Kenneth MacMillan's name badge, 1990
4. two faxes about the pas de deux from Winter Dreams, 1990
5. from Publications Department re programme notes for Manon and Concerto, 1990, Gala programme for The Prince of the Pagodas, The Judas Tree and Mayerling, 1992
6. Handwritten draft letter to Anthony Dowell re 'Sylvie Guillem problem' , 1990
7. with Dr Joan Watson on naming a plant fossil in his honour, 1992
   There are handwritten drafts of a recommendation for Kim Baker, formerly of Royal Opera House Wardrobe Department, notes about Yolanda Sonnabend, and a draft letter of condolence to Camilla Panufnik on the death of her husband Andrezj, plus a page of notes

Administrative correspondence includes minutes and notes of meetings of the Development Working Group, 1984, re Manon in Australia, Anastasia, 1985, video recordings at the Royal Opera House, 1986-87, the revivals of Rite of Spring and Romeo and Juliet in 1987/88 and 1989, dedicating performances of Gloria and Requiem to the memory of Julian Hosking and Greg Bellamy, 1989, the proposed move of Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet to Birmingham, 1989, request from Hong Kong Ballet to purchase Rituals, 1989, and plans for celebrations for Kenneth MacMillan's 60th birthday in 1989. A letter from Bernard Haitink expresses his joy at conducting performances of Romeo and Juliet, 1989.
Press cuttings cover the dispute between Kenneth MacMillan and Michael Somes, 1984, Norman Morrice's response to criticisms over standards at The Royal Ballet, 1985, and a short interview with Jennifer Penney, 1985.
Press releases cover the appointment of Kenneth MacMillan as Artistic Associate of American Ballet Theatre, 1984, and of Isaiah Jackson as Music Director of The Royal Ballet, 1987, and there are interdepartmental communications listing press nights.
There is correspondence:

1. between Kenneth MacMillan, Ninette de Valois and Ann Nugent following Nugent's article in The Stage reporting Madam's criticism of contemporary choreographers, plus a copy of the article, 1985
2. between John Sainsbury and Kenneth MacMillan re MacMillan's concern at the Board's lack of confidence in him, plus a letter from Jeremy Isaacs to Maggi Hambling in response to MacMillan's concern expressed in an article in the Evening Standard, 1989
3. from Ninette de Valois recommending Rumer Godden [possibly to assist with the scenario for The Prince of the Pagodas], n.d.
4. Kenneth MacMillan's handwritten notes and final version of a tribute to Barry Kay, plus copies of the order of service and a handwritten card from Michael [Werner], and a telegram from John Tooley expressing sympathy, 1985
   There is a menu for a dinner in honour of Claus Moser, 1987, and two copies of the Order for the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Sir Frederick Ashton, 1988