Identity area
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Date(s)
- 1978-1983 (Creation)
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19 typed and nine handwritten letters, one handwritten and two typed notes, one printed invitation, three envelopes, six postcards, two compliments slips, 12 interdepartmental correspondences, one press pack, one photocopy, one report, one set of minutes of a meeting and three orders of service
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Kenneth MacMillan was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and began ballet classes in Retford, England, in 1940. He joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet School in 1944 and later the Sadler's Wells Ballet but gave up dancing for choreography partly due to crippling stage fright. His first choreographic work was Somnambulism, created for the Sadler's Wells Ballet Choreographic Group in 1953 and he created works for both Royal Ballet companies throughout his career. He created significant works for The Stuttgart Ballet and his works are danced by ballet companies world-wide. He has also created work for television and cinema.
Kenneth MacMillan was Director of the Deutsche Oper Ballet in Berlin from 1966 to 1969, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet from 1970 to 1977 and its Principal Chroreographer from 1977 until his death. He was also Associate Director of American Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1989, and Artistic Associate of the Houston Ballet from 1989 to 1992.
Kenneth MacMillan was knighted in 1983, and he received honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh (1976) and the Royal College of Art (1992). His awards include the Evening Standard Ballet Award (1979); Society of West End Theatre Ballet Award, 1980 and 1983; and, posthumously, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production in 1993 for The Judas Tree; the Society of London Theatre Special Award in 1993; and the Tony Award for Best Choreography in 1994 for Carousel
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Correspondence from administrative and artistic staff at the Royal Opera House including Anthony Russell Roberts, John Tooley, Paul Findlay, Peter Wright and Norman Morrice, the press and publications departments. It includes a handwritten draft and typed letter from Kenneth MacMillan to the Editor of The Guardian Newspaper and a typed letter from Peter Wright to Linda Christmas, in response to her article criticising MacMillan's period as Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet, concerns raised by Kenneth MacMillan and Norman Morrice about technical standards at the Royal Opera House, events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Royal Ballet and Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet in 1981, a performance of Romeo and Juliet to celebrate the marriage of TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales, 1981, Ninette de Valois's 80th birthday, the proposed premiere of The Prince of the Pagodas in 1983, to Cameron Mackintosh Productions re the possible release of Stephen Jefferies, the Financial Scrutiny of the Royal Opera House by Clive Priestley, the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House, possible performances by Natalia Makarova in the 1984/85 season.
There are handwritten letters from Ninette de Valois and her brother Gordon Anthony re Madam's 80th birthday, from Colin Davis and Norman Morrice, and postcards from Peter Wright from Yugoslavia, 1981, from Leslie Edwards, Monica Parker and Michael Somes from Japan and China, 1983.
Interdepartmental communications give details of press nights, interviews and photographers
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- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- Royal Opera House, London (Subject)
- The Royal Ballet (Subject)
- de Valois, Ninette (Subject)
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Archivist's note
Some of the correspondence would be interesting to digitise