Kenneth MacMillan created the three-act ballet of Manon for The Royal Ballet which had its first performance at the Royal Opera House, London on 7 Mar 1974.

One file containing handwritten notes and typed scenario, and a later publication proof. The material comprises

1. Two pages of handwritten breakdown of the action of the ballet by Act and Scene, with timings, by Kenneth MacMillan, in blue biro with additions in pencil and black felt tip pen. On Royal Opera House headed notepaper
2. Three pages of handwritten breakdown of the action of the ballet by Act and Scene, with timings, in an unidentified hand. On lined paper
3. Two typed pages giving the scenario for the ballet, with handwritten annotations by Kenneth MacMillan in pencil and black felt tip pen, and break down with timings on the reverse of each page. The second page has a piece torn off but there is no missing information
4. Photocopy of two typed pages giving the scenario for the ballet, with slight differences from item 2
5. Six photocopied pages of proofs for notes to accompany the Covent Garden Video Production recording of Manon, with some queries and annotations (large)

One file of correspondence and telegrams relating to the first night of Manon, with one later letter. The material comprises

1. 20 greetings telegrams sending good luck for the first night of Manon, including from Frederick Ashton, Natalia Makarova, John Tooley, 'The Touring Trash', Michael Wood. One dated 6 Apr 1974, others undated or postmarked 7 Mar 1974
2. One greetings card from Romayne Grigorova, Ballet Mistress
3. One handwritten letter from Arnold Haskell to Kenneth MacMillan sending an early edition of Manon for good luck
4. One ticket for the Gala Premiere of Manon at the Royal Opera House, 7 Mar 1974
5. One photocopy of a letter from the Comptroller to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to The Earl of Drogheda, Chairman of the Royal Opera House, sending Her Majesty's warmest congratulations. On Clarence House headed notepaper, 8 Mar 1974
6. One handwritten postcard from Lord Donaldson, member of the Board of the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan sending best congratulations. 9 Mar 1974
7. One handwritten letter from John Sainsbury, sending congratulations and love from he and Anya, 18 Mar 1974, with envelope
8. One handwritten letter from Dicky [Richard Buckle], excusing his review, with envelope, 12 Mar 1974
9. One typed letter on Community Relations Commission letter head, from Mark Bonham Carter, member of the Board of the Royal Opera House, offering congratulations and suggestions for some cuts to the work, 18 Mar 1974
10. One handwritten airmail letter from John Lanchbery to Kenneth MacMillan, about Manon being performed in Stockholm and asking to talk about the musical re-arrangement Kenneth MacMillan would like done, 18 Apr 1980

One original design for the bedroom pas de deux from Manon, 1997, showing the bed, desk and chair, candlestick and drapes. Pencil, watercolour and collage mounted on backing board, with fabric samples glued to the board

11 photographs of the model sets designed by Nicholas Georgiadis, one photograph of Kenneth MacMillan in a rehearsal studio watching a dancer, and one photograph of Jennifer Penney taking a curtain call after her farewell performance as Manon in 1988, photograph inscribed to Kenneth MacMillan

Black and white photographs of the first performance of Manon by the Swedish Royal Ballet, 1981, and colour photographs of the first performance of Mayerling by the Swedish Royal Ballet, 1997. Four photographs mounted on card with 'Thank You!' handwritten on card, one each of Kenneth MacMillan, Las Hermanas, Romeo and Juliet and Manon (large). One composite card showing Kenneth MacMillan taking a rehearsal in the studio with a photograph of Romeo and Juliet town scene, and 'Stockholm 5 & 6 December 1969' handwritten on card, the reverse with signatures of members of the Company (large)

One page, double-sided, handwritten letter to Kenneth MacMillan asking if, now that her role in Manon has been eliminated, she could learn Monica (Mason's) or, failing that, Vergie (Derman's) or Laura (Connor's). She would also like to learn Monica Mason's role in Elite Syncopations, with envelope, 4.4.1975

Derek Rencher was a dancer with The Royal Ballet creating roles in several of Kenneth MacMillan's ballets. He studied design and art history at the Royal College of Art before becoming a dancer and was a skilled artist. The material in this file comprises

1. One hand written colour postcard reporting on the success of Manon in Berlin, undated and postmark illegible
2. A limerick about Iris (Law) and Gwyneth (Matthews), with accompanying sketch
3. Stylised drawing titled Costume Romeo and Juliet Nursie Gerd Larsen, black pen and ink

This file contains correspondence between Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan, their Agents International Creative Management Inc., specialist legal advisers and American Ballet Theatre covering the terms of Kenneth MacMillan's appointment as Artistic Associate, for the performance of some of his ballets, and payment of royalties. There is correspondence from a firm of solicitors advising re US Withholding Tax, and from the Consul of the United States confirming Kenneth MacMillan's right to employment in the US

The majority of material in this file consists of correspondence relating to Kenneth MacMillan granting the rights to The Australian Ballet to perform his ballet Manon, with many faxes between Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan, Simon Williams at Williams and Niblett Intellectual Property solicitors in Sydney, Australia, The Australian Ballet and Rubinstein Callingham, Polden and Gale, solicitors in London, UK. There are two letters from Maina Gielgud, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, initiating the discussion. Some of the faxes are annotated in hand by Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan and many of their replies consist of handwritten faxes. There is also a small amount of correspondence relating to the retirement of Noel Pelly as Administrator at The Australian Ballet, with handwritten tributes from Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan