Kenneth MacMillan created the three-act ballet Romeo and Juliet for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 9.2.1965 at the Royal Opera House, London, UK. The ballet was created on the young dancers Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable but the first night was danced by Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. The ballet has subsequently been performed by ballet companies all over the world. The material for the 1965 production by The Royal Ballet comprises:

1. Five typed pages, four of Cast Biographies (compiled from Shakespeare's play by Mary Miller) and one of the action of the entire story that takes place over four days. Undated
2. Three typed pages of Cast Biographies (Taken from the play by Mary Miller) with slight differences to the above. With Deborah handwritten in pencil top right of first page. Undated
3. 33 telegrams wishing good luck for the first night and congratulations on the success of the ballet. 8.2.1965 (1), 9.2.1965 (30), 10.2.1965 (1), 18.2.1965 (1)
4. One handwritten letter from Mary (Miller) to Kenneth MacMillan wishing him great success
5. One typed letter from Lord Drogheda, Chair of the Board of Directors at the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan, complaining about two pieces in the Sunday Telegraph, praising Romeo and Juliet and suggesting possible composers for his next work including Benjamin Britten and Hans Werner Henze, 14.2.1965
6. One photocopy of a telegram from David Webster, General Administrator at the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan reporting the unprecedented number of curtain calls for the second cast of Romeo and Juliet in New York, Christopher Gable and Lynn Seymour, 23.4.1965
7. Two typed letters from Tony and Julie (Andrews) in New York expressing their admiration, 23.4.1965
8. Handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan, with comments on an unknown Juliet's performance. On Northern Ballet Theatre stamped envelope, postmarked 20.1.1989
9. 10 black and white photocopies of costume designs with the character and dancers' names written on, and some handwritten notes from Kenneth MacMillan (large). The character of Romeo is to be danced by [Derek] Deane who danced the role in the 1970s
   Material for the 2010 production by the ballet company of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy, comprises:
10. 44 colour copies of costume designs by Odette Nicoletti
11. Eight colour copies of set designs by Mauro Carosi
12. A ring bound volume of plastic front cover, title page and 13 pages, showing the scenery and scene changes

One photograph of the first production of Romeo and Juliet, one photograph taken from the wings of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, during a curtain call for Margot Fonteyn and the cast of a performance given in her honour, one colour photograph of the tomb scene (large)

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

1. Handmade card signed by Peter (Hollamby) and Clement (Crisp), undated. Peter Hollamby was Clement Crisp's life partner.
2. Carbon copy of two typed pages of a mock biography of Kenneth MacMillan, undated
3. Five postcards, one typed and two handwritten notes, including invitations and humorous comments about dancers and ballets seen, 1969-1992 and undated
4. Photocopy of an article from The Stage, surrounded by humorous comments by Clement Crisp in red ink, undated
5. Typed letter on The Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles headed notepaper, gossipy letter, August 18, no year
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. Page from a press cutting album with photos of dancers, with additional captions by Clement Crisp in blue biro, undated
14. One photocopy of a mock x-ray, dated 1.7.1974

Kenneth MacMillan first met playwright John Osborne in 1958 when he was invited to create the choreography for Osborne's musical The World of Paul Slickey. The correspondence in this file comprises

1. Two handwritten letters from John Osborne to Kenneth MacMillan explaining why the play he was working on for him has altered, both undated
2. Typed compliments slip on John Osborne headed note paper, signed John, 12.12.1958
3. Handwritten letter from John Osborne praising Romeo and Juliet and inviting Kenneth to supper on his return from Stuttgart. Also mentions a play that requires some choreography that he would like Kenneth's help with, on Woodfall Film Productions Ltd headed notepaper, 4.3.1965
4. Typed note from John Osborne to Deborah and Kenneth thanking them for remembering 'our little opening', on John Osborne headed notepaper, 27.2.1976
5. Typed letter from John Osborne to Kenneth MacMillan asking if he could improve the dance elements in his new play Dejavu. Also gives details of his poor health, with envelope, 18.5.1992
6. Handwritten copy of Kenneth MacMillan's reply to the above letter, explaining why he cannot help and sympathising with his health issues, in pencil, undated
7. Handwritten letter in reply to above expressing his sorry that Kenneth wasn't able to see Dejavu but pleased to hear he is doing Carousel. Explains some of the difficulties he is facing but happy to be in contact after so long, 21.10.1992

Handwritten aerogramme from Sydney, Australia to Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan, complaining of the difficulties of the season but reporting that 'Romeo (and Juliet) is certainly the best thing on the bill'. Thanks them for the first night telegram. Praises Ivan Nagy both as dancer and person, reports that she makes her delayed debut as Swanhilda, and mentions forthcoming visit from Dan Hogg, 31.8.1972

Nine page handwritten letter from Miami Beach, Florida to Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan where Georgina is teaching for three weeks at a Summer School just outside of Miami, run by an Argentinian dancer who had been a member of (Alicia) Alonso's company in Cuba. Mentions Mikhail Baryshnikov spraining his ankle at the last matinee of the season, giving a mumbled end of season speech to the Company in which he mentioned the forthcoming association with Kenneth MacMillan but not the Company acquiring Romeo and Juliet which is, however, common knowledge amongst the dancers. Also discusses the performances of Triad. Talks about her family and plans for the rest of the summer, undated but with envelope postmarked 23.6.1984

Five page handwritten letter from Osaka, Japan to Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan reporting on the American Ballet Theatre tour to Japan, and looking forward to working with Kenneth on The Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet when back in New York, with envelope, 25.9.1987

Three letters from Georgina Parkinson to Deborah MacMillan from America, comprising

1. Two page typed letter from New York talking about the pressure of working on Romeo (and Juliet). Julio Bocca is the only new Romeo and he is good, musical and fast to learn. She reports that Kenneth seems well and has just left for Toronto. She goes to Toronto for four days and then details her movements over the summer, 17.4.1988
2. Two page typed letter 'Over a Period of a Few Frantic Days', critical of Mikhail Baryshnikov and the way he is treating Kenneth. Georgina is off to Korea soon, resentful that she can't enjoy her work at ABT, undated
3. Two page typed letter, 'Friday Night', reporting on the toxic atmosphere at ABT and how badly Mikhail Baryshnikov is behaving, undated

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

Letter from Neil S Fleckman of Fleckman & Co. Management and Production, enclosing cheque for performances of Romeo and Juliet pas de deux by Alessandra Ferri and Friends during a tour of outdoor festivals in Italy, summer 1988, 15.11.1988