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Following Kenneth MacMillan's involvement in the Herbert Ross film of Nijinsky, Kenneth MacMillan conceived the idea of a television ballet-drama about Nijinsky's life. He initially discussed the project with London Weekend Television and then with Granada. The material in this file contains correspondence with both organisations and comprises

1. Two typed letters from Melvyn Bragg to Kenneth MacMillan on The South-Bank Show, London Weekend Television letter headed paper, discussing the idea of a collaboration on a Nijinsky work and expressing Melvyn Bragg's delight at the possibility of working with Kenneth MacMillan, one with envelope, 24 Oct 1978 and 15 Nov 1978
2. One typed letter from Nick Elliott to Kenneth MacMillan on London Weekend Television letter headed paper, attaching a photocopy of a two page memo from Nick Elliott to Michael Grade, attempting to move the project forward, 5 Jan 1979. With notes by Kenneth MacMillan in blue felt tip pen and pencil
3. One typed letter from Michael Grade to Kenneth MacMillan on London Weekend Television letter headed paper, congratulating Kenneth MacMillan on the Evening Standard award, and looking forward to 'next year and Nijinsky!' 1 Feb 1979
4. One telegram to Kenneth MacMillan from Michael Oliver, Kenneth MacMillan's agent, confirming Granada's interest in opening discussions re the Nijinsky project, 7 Apr 1979
5. One carbon copy of a letter from Kenneth MacMillan to Michael Grade, London Weekend Television, attaching two pages of a proposed treatment and a page of descriptions of some visual effects, plus one typed note from Nick Elliott to Kenneth MacMillan on London Weekend Television headed notepaper confirming the return of the treatment and expressing sorrow that plans did not work out, 25 Mar 1979 and 2 Apr 1979
6. One typed letter from Sir Denis Forman on Granada Television headed notepaper expressing desire to proceed to the next stage with the projected programme about Nijinsky and Diaghilev, which would be to commission Clive James to produce a treatment for the programme, 26 Apr 1979
7. Photocopies of two letters, one to Violette Verdy at the Paris Opera and one to Marcia Haydee at Stuttgart Ballet confirming that there is no definite news of Nijinsky and expressing concern that Patrick Dupond and Birgit Kiel would be left without roles if the project does not go ahead. 26 Jul 1979
8. Two handwritten letters from Kenneth MacMillan to Denis Forman, one seeking confirmation of the project going ahead as dancers need to be confirmed, 28 Jul 1979, the second responding to Clive James's first treatment, n.d.
9. One handwritten letter from Clive James to Kenneth MacMillan, on The Observer newspaper headed notepaper but as from Cambridge home address re retaining their rights in the Nijinsky project, 10 Aug 1979
10. One handwritten draft or copy of a letter by Kenneth MacMillan to Sir Denis Forman thanking him for returning the Nijinsky treatment and expressing disappointment that the industrial action has made things impossible but hoping that they can return to the subject in the future, 23 Sep 1979
11. One typed letter from Sir Denis Forman on Granada Television Ltd headed notepaper to Kenneth MacMillan expressing disappointment that the strike made collaboration over Nijinsky impossible but hoping that they can meet with Tanya Bruce-Lockhart to discuss MacMillan's treatment, in case they are able to return to the project. With envelope, 4 Oct 1979
12. 21 handwritten and 16 typed pages of the treatment for Nijinsky, some written by Kenneth MacMillan and some by Deborah MacMillan, originals and carbon copies, some large

London Weekend Television's the South Bank Show recorded a documentary of the making of Mayerling in 1978. The material in this file includes an invitation to a private supper hosted by LWT in the Crush Bar at the Royal Opera House after a performance of Mayerling, 13 Mar 1978, correspondence from Melvyn Bragg about Mayerling, it being the official entry for the Prix Italia, the possibility of working together on an Isadora project, 1979, of MacMillan creating a piece for television for Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean, ice dancers, 1984, from Michael Grade, Director of Programmes, re Mayerling, 1978, and Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, 1980, from Rosie Alison, Associate Producer, re using some excerpts from MacMillan ballets for documentaries, 1992, and from Greg Dyke, Group Chief Executive, a proposed agreement for sales to overseas broadcasters, 1992