One typed letter from Phyllis C.Kaufman to Kenneth MacMillan about a new play by an American playwright that she believes it would be ideal for him to direct, 20 Feb 1978

Kenneth MacMillan directed three plays for the theatre between 1982 and 1984, two in London and one in Manchester. The files contain copies of the scripts, his thoughts on the plays and their characters as well as correspondence, production and marketing material

The Chairs and The Lesson were the first plays that Kenneth MacMillan directed for the theatre. The double bill opened on 16 Jul 1982 at the New Inn Theatre, London. Material comprises

1. Single cash bound book with handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan on the mood of the play, the characters, and notes for the performances. 30 pages with notes, two for Dance of Death, the subsequent play he directed
2. Copy of typed letter requesting performing rights for the plays. Unsigned, n.d.
3. Programme for the performances, with The New Inn St Marys Rd Ealing W5 written by Kenneth MacMillan in pencil on the cover
4. Typed letter from John Holloway to Kenneth MacMillan, with audience breakdown and payment details. Also thanking Kenneth MacMillan for the success of the double bill and inviting him to work at the New Inn whenever he likes. With two pages of accounts, n.d.
5. Typed Petty Cash claim from Adam Harrison to Kenneth MacMillan, with five receipts, 19 Jul 1982
6. Typed letter from Adam Harrison, Stage Manager, to Kenneth MacMillan with final details, 7 Aug 1982
7. Handwritten letter from Armand [Gerrard] at The Touring Office apologising for being unable to find backing to take the plays to Edinburgh, 11Jul 1982
8. Handwritten letter from Shelagh Fraser asking Kenneth MacMillan to read a play she has written, 12 Jul (1982)
9. Handwritten letter from Richard Denning apologising to Kenneth MacMillan for pulling out of the production, 20 Jul 1982
10. Handwritten good luck postcard from Mary [Miller] to Kenneth MacMIllan, n.d.
11. Handwritten postcard from Mary [Miller] to Kenneth MacMillan, n.d.
12. Handwritten letter from 'Prince Charles' to 'Lord MacMillan' with congratulations, 26 Jul 1982

The second play that Kenneth MacMillan directed was August Strindberg's The Dance of Death for the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, England, in 1983

The typed script is interleaved with blank pages, and has handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan in black felt tip pen, graphite, green and red pencils. The notes include a list of scenes, pacing, motivation and mood, n.d.

The typed script is interleaved with blank pages, and has handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan in black felt tip pen, graphite, green, purple, orange, brown and red pencils. The notes include a list of scenes, pacing, motivation and mood. The title page is signed and dated, Kenneth MacMillan Aug 15 Manchester '83. There is a black and white postcard of August Strindberg taped to the inside front cover of the binder, sent from Stockholm, signature illegible

The material in this file consists of correspondence and printed material from departments of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, England and comprises:

1. One typed letter from the Friends Organisation re a lecture/presentation, three typed letters from the Marketing and Publicity Director including a photocopy of an image by Franck Starowieski, and one compliments slip, Mar - Aug 1983
2. Six typed pages of production notes, Aug-Sep 1983
3. One letter from the Finance Manager with budget figures, 14 Jun 1983
4. One invitation to the Photo and Press Call, 13 Sep 1983
5. Two photocopies of advertising material for Autumn at the Royal Exchange Theatre, one printed season brochure for September 1983, two printed double page leaflets for The Dance of Death with booking details, one printed programme for The Dance of Death
6. One memo giving details of Production Expenditure and Orders as at 1 Sep 1983

The material in this folder consists of correspondence from members of the cast and artistic administration at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and with agents and members of the public. There is also some reference material relating to August Strindberg. The material comprises

1. Five handwritten letters, three with envelopes, one handwritten postcard and one typed list from Jill Bennett to Kenneth MacMillan, Mar - Nov 1983 and n.d. One handwritten postcard from Robert Hardy to Jill Bennett which she has forwarded to Kenneth MacMillan, n.d.
2. Three handwritten letters, two with envelopes, from Edward Fox to Kenneth MacMillan, Apr and Jun 1983 and n.d.
3. Two handwritten postcards, two typed letters, one with envelope, from Michael Meyer to Kenneth MacMillan. One letter encloses Michael Meyer's programme note Strindberg and The Dance of Death
4. Copies of correspondence from Saraband Associates and Fraser and Dunlop Ltd, copied to Kenneth MacMillan, re the use of Michael Meyer's adaptation of The Dance of Death, Nov 1982-Mar 1983. Two pages of carbon copy and 10 fax pages, two compliments slips and one typed note
5. One typed letter from Casper Wrede, Resident Artistic Director, to Kenneth MacMillan, 9 Nov 1983
6. One handwritten letter from Michael Elliott, Artistic Director, to Kenneth MacMillan, 6 Nov 1983
7. One handwritten letter from Helen [McMurray] to Kenneth MacMillan, on Granada TV Ltd headed notepaper, 21 Oct 1983
8. One typed letter of praise to Kenneth MacMillan, signature illegible, n.d.
9. One handwritten copy of a letter from Kenneth MacMillan to Miss Alexander confirming that all roles in the play have been filled, 17 Jul 1983
10. One typed letter from Robert Lantz, New York, re recent meeting and possibility of working together in the future, 7.6.1983
11. One typed list of possible actors and their agents, from Saraband Associates, 16.5.1983
12. One handwritten postcard from Adrian Mitchell, postmarked 5.5.1983, and one handwritten postcard from Ted Hardwicke (? signature not clearly legible), with envelope, 11.5.1983
13. One typed letter from Fraser and Dunlop Ltd with two black and white photographs of possible actors for the children in the play, 23.3.1983
14. One copy of a typed letter from the Finance Manager of the Royal Exchange Theatre to Saraband Associates re Kenneth MacMillan's contract, 15.3.1983
15. One image of a danse macabre
16. Photocopy of an article Strindberg and the Danse Macabre by Walter Johnson, from Modern Drama (May 1960), five pages
17. Photocopies of The Turning Point, uncredited and undated, five pages

Kenneth MacMillan acquired the rights to produce Tennessee William's Kingdom of Heaven in 1982 and directed the first professional performances at the Hampstead Theatre, London, in April 1984

This folder contains correspondence relating to the proposed staging of Kingdom of Heaven and comprises correspondence between Kenneth MacMillan, his agents and lawyers, the Hampstead Theatre, London, Royal Shakespeare Company, Jonathan Pryce's agent, and the Tennessee Williams Estate.