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Clement Crisp was a dance historian, author and critic, as well as Librarian and Archivist at the Royal Academy of Dance for many years. He was a good friend and supporter of the work of Kenneth MacMillan. The material in this file includes some writings on Kenneth MacMillan by Clement Crisp, but mostly comprises postcards, notes and letters that are humorous, often at the expense of people they both know, and could be considered offensive. The material comprises

1. Handmade card signed by Peter (Hollamby) and Clement (Crisp), undated. Peter Hollamby was Clement Crisp's life partner.
2. Carbon copy of two typed pages of a mock biography of Kenneth MacMillan, undated
3. Five postcards, one typed and two handwritten notes, including invitations and humorous comments about dancers and ballets seen, 1969-1992 and undated
4. Photocopy of an article from The Stage, surrounded by humorous comments by Clement Crisp in red ink, undated
5. Typed letter on The Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles headed notepaper, gossipy letter, August 18, no year
6. Typed letter praising the work of Kenneth MacMillan, having seen Requiem, Song of the Earth and My Brother, My Sisters in quick succession, 7.5.1978
7. Carbon copy of four typed pages of biography of Kenneth MacMillan by Clement Crisp, describing his work from Danses Concertantes in 1955 to Images of Love in 1964, with corrections in blue biro, undated
8. 10 typed pages, Kenneth MacMillan and His Ballets by Clement Crisp, the first seven giving a brief biography and a review of his ballets up to Romeo and Juliet, three final pages on Romeo and Juliet, with corrections in black biro, copyright Clement Crisp, undated
9. Carbon copy of three typed pages, Orpheus: Programme Note for Covent Garden by Clement Crisp, with handwritten corrections in blue biro, with typed note to Kenneth MacMillan 'For your comments', undated but Orpheus had its first performance in 1982
10. Carbon copy of three typed pages, MacMillan's Orpheus by Clement Crisp, taken from an interview with Kenneth MacMillan, with corrections in blue ink, with typed note to Kenneth MacMillan 'for your approval', 15.4.1982
11. One page typed letter enclosing a ballet scenario (not included) by Walter Gruber for I Promessi Sposi, undated but 1979 from the contents of the letter
12. Page from The Illustrated London News, 18.5.1912, with an illustration of forcible feeding of women suffragist prisoner, with additions by Clement Crisp in blue biro
13. Page from a press cutting album with photos of dancers, with additional captions by Clement Crisp in blue biro, undated
14. One photocopy of a mock x-ray, dated 1.7.1974

These letters and the notebook were sent from Clement Crisp to Kenneth MacMillan during the latter's time as Ballet Director at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. They were intended for private consumption so are humorous and contain language and opinions that could be considered upsetting and offensive. Within that context there are comments about Kenneth MacMillan's new production of The Sleeping Beauty, ballets Clement Crisp has seen in London including The Royal Ballet's new productions of Coppelia and Enigma Variations and Festival Ballet's new production of The Sleeping Beauty. He discusses Vergie Derman's wedding, the disposal of ballet sets at the Royal Opera House, dancers Noella Pontois, John Gilpin, Lynn Seymour and Georgina Parkinson and the Kirov Ballet.
There are photocopies of two letters from Kenneth MacMillan to Clement Crisp from 1967 with an accompanying letter from Clement Crisp to Jann Parry. The letters discuss The Sleeping Beauty, Vergie Derman, Lynn Seymour, Georgina Parkinson and works seen in Stuttgart

1. Two copies of the Order of Service for the funeral of Kenneth MacMillan at St Paul's Church, Hammersmith, on 6 Nov 1992
2. Handwritten letter from Clement Crisp to Deborah MacMillan with a typed copy of his eulogy, Remembering Kenneth MacMillan, in which he records first seeing him in The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House in 1946, following his career as a dancer and then choreographer
3. Handwritten letter from Monica Mason to Deborah MacMillan with a typed copy of her words for Kenneth.
4. Typed copy of the Eulogy spoken by John Sainsbury remembering his career, but also the holiday on Corfu in 1991 when Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte MacMillan joined John and Anya Sainsbury and their family

Kenneth MacMillan was asked by Studio Vista publishers to write a foreword to Lynn Seymour: A Photographic Study. This file contains Kenneth MacMillan's foreward typed by Clement Crisp, with amendments by Crisp, together with a covering typed letter to Kenneth MacMillan from Clement Crisp, signed Claryce Klimt, 27 Mar [1980], and a typed letter from Studio Vista enclosing a copy of the Foreword on three pieces of photocopy, 30 May 1980

Kenneth MacMillan was appointed Director of the ballet of the Deutshe Oper Berlin in 1966. He created a new production of The Sleeping Beauty for the Company which had its premiere on 8.10.1967. The material comprises:

1. Three handwritten pages by Kenneth MacMillan describing his experience of The Sleeping Beauty and his vision for this new production. With a typed version with handwritten corrections. Undated
2. Double page spread from a souvenir programme (?) of magazine with Kenneth MacMillan's article in German. There are also articles by Horst Koegler and Clement Crisp, and b/w illustrations of designs by Barry Kay. Undated but gives the premier date of 8.10.1967
3. Carbon copy of three typed pages of a review by Clement Crisp of the opening of The Royal Ballet season, comparing it unfavourably with Kenneth MacMillan's new production of The Sleeping Beauty in Berlin, undated
4. One typed letter from Michael Anderson, London International agents, to Kenneth MacMillan, enclosing a photocopy of a review from the Daily Express, 13.10.1967