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The material in this file consists predominantly of notes and correspondence relating to the first night, with a small amount of material in response to the opening night. Kenneth MacMillan's concept for the ballet changed significantly during the rehearsal process causing the set and costumes to be simplified. This is reflected in some of the material which comprises:

1. Two pages of handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan on yellow interdepartmental communication paper. The notes lists dancers' names and the music for different episodes with page references. Undated
2. Two page handwritten letter from Yolanda Sonnabend to Kenneth MacMillan with 'thoughts after yesterday's meeting with John [B.Read], discussing lighting and the positioning and use of the bath. Pen and ink. Undated
3. Handwritten note from Yolanda Sonnabend to Kenneth MacMillan about make up for the dancers. In pencil on yellow inter departmental communication paper. Undated
4. Typed letter from Anthony Russell-Roberts, Administrative Assisant, The Royal Ballet, to Kenneth MacMillan re rehearsal schedule. On Royal Opera House headed notepaper, 10 Oct 1983
5. Typed cast list with alternative casts, 1984/85 February
6. Typed preliminary Props List, 14 Feb 1984
7. Photocopy of music note by Paul Griffiths for the programme with covering letter to Kenneth MacMillan and photocopied inter departmental communication requesting comments. Sent by Janet Jempson, Publications department at the Royal Opera House, 30 Jan 1984. The top page has a handwritten note 'Kenneth the Music Note for "------". P.B. [Peter Brownlee] suggesting that it was sent a second time to Kenneth MacMillan
8. Typed letter from John McMurray, Publications Editor at the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan enclosing a copy of Michael Patterson's note on Buchner and Woyzeck, requesting comments. 7 Feb 1984. With photocopy of the note attached
9. Page proof of the cast list for the programme for the first performance of Different Drummer
10. Handwritten letter from Catherine Ashmore, photographer, to Kenneth MacMillan, expressing her disappointment at not being able to take the rehearsal pictures of his new ballet and thanking him for offering her the opportunity. 14 Feb 1984
11. Press cutting from Londoner's Diary in The Standard newspaper, 24 Feb 1984, reporting on the simplification of set and costumes for the ballet and suggesting a waste of funds, with photocopy of response from John Tooley, General Director of the Royal Opera House, 27 Feb 1984
12. Typed letter from John C Botts, Managing Director of Citicorp International Group, to Kenneth MacMillan, thanking him for allowing the company to participate in supporting the creation of his new ballet, 27 Feb 1984
13. Typed letter from Peter Brownlee to Kenneth MacMillan giving details of who to thank for sponsoring the ballet and the party, 27 Feb 1984
14. Typed idc from Anthony Russell-Roberts asking if 'Our President', [HRH the Princess Margaret] could sit in on a rehearsal, 3 Jan 1984

Jann Parry's notebooks with research notes on various subjects and some contact details. Loose notes include some 'MacM comments'

The material in this file comprises

1. One unlined notebook with Kenneth MacMillan's thoughts on the play and its production, n.d.
2. An extract from A Look at Tennessee Williams by Mike Steen, publ. Hawthorn Books, USA, 1969, which is an interview with Estelle Parsons about performing Tennessee Williams
3. American Blues: The Plays of Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams by Kenneth Tynan, a chapter from The Modern American Theatre ed. by Alvin B. Kernan, publ. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, USA, 1967

One handwritten letter from Brenda Last, Artistic Director of the Norwegian National Ballet, asking if Kenneth MacMillan could create or mount an existing work on the Company, possibly Solitaire, 13 Oct 1971, signed Birdie

One typed letter inviting Kenneth MacMillan to the opening night of Northern Ballet Theatre's production of Don Quixote at Sadler's Wells Theatre, with the booking leaflet and an invitation, 24 Jan 1989. One typed letter from Christopher Gable, Artistic Director, commenting on the South Bank television film about him that Kenneth MacMillan participated in, and asking if Kenneth MacMillan would be well enough to create a work for the Company, 17 Mar 1989

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

1. Delivery card to accompany flowers after seeing one of Kenneth MacMillan's ballets, n.d.
2. Handwritten card from Herbert Ross and Nora Kaye written by Nora, to Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte, enclosing an unspecified gift , n.d.
3. 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.
4. 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
5. Handwritten note from Nora Kay enclosing an interview (not in file). Reference to Leslie [Browne] and Antony Tudor, n.d.
6. Typed letter from Herbert Ross inviting Kenneth and Deborah and baby for the summer, 19 Jul 1976
7. Telegram from Nora to Kenneth in Stuttgart, pleased with rushes of Romeo and Juliet, with envelope, 14 Sep 1976
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. One telegram from Nora [Kaye] with alteration to travel schedule, n.d.

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Noctambules for Sadler's Wells Ballet which premiered on 1 Mar 1956 at the Royal Opera House, London. The material in this file comprises

1. One hand drawn cartoon with the inscription 'a certain mysterious veiled lady wishes you good luck for your work on Noctambules...9 Jan 1956', by Jeffrey Solomons. Unsigned but identified by Deborah MacMillan
2. Six telegrams wishing Kenneth MacMillan good luck on the first night of Noctambules, from Michael Somes, All at (Sadler's Wells) Theatre Ballet, Margot Fonteyn, 'Madam' (Ninette de Valois), Vivien and Laurence Olivier, and Robert Irving, 1 Mar 1956
3. Handwritten letter from Leslie Edwards on Royal Opera House headed notepaper to Kenneth MacMillan thanking him for entrusting him with such a wonderful role, undated
4. Three handwritten pages on two sheets of paper of analysis and suggestions for alterations to the choreography, by Ninette de Valois, undated