Two sepia toned prints of a photograph of a young Kenneth MacMillan in ballet costume. One signed on the reverse 'With love to Aunt Jeanie, Ken xxxx'
One black and white postcard of The Empire Orpheans, Great Yarmouth, 1943-44, group photograph of the troupe with Kenneth MacMillan seated at the front right
Kenneth MacMillan appeared in A Season of Ballet in Henley-on-Thames in 1952 choreographed and produced by John Cranko. MacMillan appears in 21 of the 39 photographs of this season, some of the photographs are signed by him
Sin títuloIllustration from Kinematograph Weekly, 13 Nov 1952, showing Kenneth MacMillan as the Dancer in An Albany Films Production Tread Softly. Includes a covering note to Charlotte [MacMillan]
Sin títuloFrederick Ashton, dancer and choreographer, was Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet from 1963-1970. The correspondence in this file consists of letters and telegrams of thanks, congratulations and good luck. Most are undated but can be dated from the context.
- Typed letter with handwritten additions, on Royal Opera House, London, headed notepaper, thanks Kenneth for his good wishes for the first night [of A Month in the Country], Feb 1976
- Handwritten letter with thanks for telegram of congratulations and speaks of the impressive ceremony at Oxford, undated
- Handwritten letter with thanks for the 'fromage' - he eats a lot of cheese now 'being a semi toothless septuagenarian'. Mentions difficulties with Lynn [Seymour] and going away for his 'month in the country', undated with envelope postmarked 19 Feb 1976
- Handwritten letter wishing 'Dearest Kenneth 'good luck and thanks for the 'flattering dedication' [Mayerling]. He sends an antique Austrian waistcoat. 'The buttons have different Emperors on them', with envelope, undated but Mayerling was first performed in 1978
- Handwritten note, good luck wishes, undated
- Thanking Kenneth and Deborah for their kind wishes, from 'old 'octo' Fred'
- Handwritten letter, with thanks for the plant and for party and 'for coming to cheer me on the last lap', with envelope, undated
- Two good luck telegrams, one sent to the Coliseum Theatre, London with 'could be 2 June 1978' written by Jann Parry in biro on back of mount
- One envelope handwritten by Frederick Ashton, addressed to Sir Kenneth MacMillan K.B.E 29 Jul 1985
- One Houston Ballet envelope addressed to Sir Frederick Ashton, postmarked 12 Dec 1977
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
- Handmade card signed by Peter (Hollamby) and Clement (Crisp), undated. Peter Hollamby was Clement Crisp's life partner.
- Carbon copy of two typed pages of a mock biography of Kenneth MacMillan, undated
- Five postcards, one typed and two handwritten notes, including invitations and humorous comments about dancers and ballets seen, 1969-1992 and undated
- Photocopy of an article from The Stage, surrounded by humorous comments by Clement Crisp in red ink, undated
- Typed letter on The Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles headed notepaper, gossipy letter, August 18, no year
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Page from a press cutting album with photos of dancers, with additional captions by Clement Crisp in blue biro, undated
- One photocopy of a mock x-ray, dated 1.7.1974
Ninette de Valois was the Founder Director of The Royal Ballet and commissioned the first ballet from Kenneth MacMillan. The material in this file comprises
- Five Christmas cards, four to Kenneth and Deborah and one to Charlotte MacMillan, undated
- Handwritten letter on Royal Opera House headed notepaper, wishing Kenneth MacMillan every success, 'Not many approved of 'The Rake' 1st time!', Mar 2nd, no year
- Handwritten letter thanking them both for the telegram. Mentions crutches. 'I hear that Manon was terrific', 21 Jan 1982
- Handwritten letter expressing regret that Kenneth MacMillan was unable to attend the gala, and that he's missing the School show - 'a talent spotting occassion (sic) for choreographers', undated but envelope postmarked 13 Jun 1988
- Handwritten letter expressing delight in his American award, the Performing Arts EMMY Award for A Lot of Happiness, 1982, undated but envelope postmarked 29 Nov 1982
- Typed letter reporting has been in bed for nearly a fortnight with shingles, and asking him to telephone when he is back from America, 26 Jun 1985
- Handwritten letter thanking him for his lovely new divertissement, Soiree Musicale, performed by pupils of the Royal Ballet School at the Royal Opera House, London for Ninette de Valois' 90th birthday, undated but envelope postmarked 28 Jul 1988
- Typed letter to Deborah MacMillan thanking her for the party. 'Dear Kenneth would dig himself in on a lonely hill like that!', 10 Aug 1994
Margot Fonteyn is the Prima Ballerina Assoluta of The Royal Ballet. She was Juliet in the first performance of Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet (although the role was created for Lynn Seymour) and Kenneth MacMillan dedicated The Prince of the Pagodas to her. The correspondence in this file comprises
- Handwritten letter on Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo headed notepaper, in her excitement she forgot to say how marvellous the pas de deux is. Absolutely right for Anya (Linden)
- Handwritten letter on Grosvenor House, London headed notepaper, thanking him for the flowers and thanking him and Peter (Wright) for 'what I know was a 'thank you' from you', July 25th, no year
- Handwritten letter from Teatro alla Scala, Milan, sending good wishes for his new position as Director of The Royal Ballet, undated but envelope postmarked 14.9.1970
- Handwritten card thanking Kenneth MacMillan and Peter (Wright) for a huge bouquet and sending best wishes, Dec 26th, no year
- Handwritten postcard of L'Opera de Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Monte-Carlo, thanking him for the birthday telegram, undated but envelope postmarked 8.6.1979
The material in this folder comprises
- Two handwritten postcards in humorous style one of which could be considered offensive. One dated 25.7.1960
- One handwritten letter in red ink with a drawing in black pen and ink and black and grey watercolour of a stylish woman in coat with large collar and cuffs and a large Tam O'Shanter hat. Arriving in London, excited to see Kenneth MacMillan's 'new creation', references Lynn(ie) (Seymour), Jan 25, no year
- One handwritten note in red ink about a rumoured visit from Sara, written around a pen and ink and black and grey watercolour drawing of a stylish woman in a coat with large collar and cuffs and a pill box hat, undated
Ballerina Nora Kaye met Kenneth MacMillan in 1956 when he choreographed Winter's Eve for American Ballet Theatre. Nora Kaye and her husband, choreographer and director Herbert Ross were great friends of Kenneth MacMillan and his family. The material in this file consists mostly of letters expressing that friendship. It comprises
- Delivery card to accompany flowers after seeing one of Kenneth MacMillan's ballets, n.d.
- Handwritten card from Herbert Ross and Nora Kaye written by Nora, to Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte, enclosing an unspecified gift , n.d.
- Handwritten letter from Nora Kaye, enclosing photographs to remind them of their visit. Sending Kenneth MacMillan good wishes for The Seven Deadly Sins, n.d.
- Handwritten letter from Nora Kay, mentioning Kenneth MacMillan's pending foot operation and Charlotte's tonsils. Also references to Misha (Mikhail Baryshnikov), Rudy (Rudolf Nureyev), Anthony Dowell and Norman Morrice, July 1st, no year
- Handwritten note from Nora Kay enclosing an interview (not in file). Reference to Leslie [Browne] and Antony Tudor, n.d.
- Typed letter from Herbert Ross inviting Kenneth and Deborah and baby for the summer, 19 Jul 1976
- Telegram from Nora to Kenneth in Stuttgart, pleased with rushes of Romeo and Juliet, with envelope, 14 Sep 1976
- Typed letter from Herbert Ross on Columbia Pictures headed notepaper, pleased that Kenneth liked the film [The Turning Point] and thanking him for letting them use the pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet, with envelope, 9 Jan 1978
- Typed letter signed by Herbert and Nora to Deborah with thanks for Deborah's notes and congratulations on the wonderful reviews of Kenneth's ballet, with envelope, 26 Jun 1978
- Typed letter signed by Herbert and Nora thanking Kenneth and Deborah for package from Fortnum and Masons, with envelope and covering note from Assistant to Herbert Ross apologising for delay, 19 Sep 1978
- Three letters from Arlene Brownstein, Secretary to Herbert Ross, enclosing copies of the telephone bills for period when Kenneth and Deborah stayed at Herbert and Nora's homes in New York and Malibu, and one letter acknowledging receipt of payment, 16 Nov 1981 - 26 Feb 1982
- One telegram from Nora [Kaye] with alteration to travel schedule, n.d.