Part 6 - Royal Opera House Production Notes

Four letters, 11 handwritten, 14 typed and 51 photocopied pages, 1 envelope, one photocopied costume design and five costume plots

This file contains material relating to the creation of costumes, props, scenery and projections required for the production of Isadora and includes correspondence and lists from different production departments in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden during the making of the ballet. It comprises

1. Two cast lists, one typed and one photocopied with surnames of the different dancers who will be performing each role. The typed list has annotations on the reverse by Kenneth MacMillan for casting. There are additional annotations on the front not all by Kenneth MacMillan. Undated
2. Five Costume Plot lists on large paper giving the Character, scene and costume required. Four comprise one plot each for Principals and for Company/Actors for Act I and Act II. Undated though the production date is given as April 1980. With envelope addressed to Kenneth MacMillan at the Operan Kungil Teatern, Stockholm, postmarked 5 Nov 1980. There is an additional costume plot for Act I which has some handwritten additions by Kenneth MacMillan
3. Typed costume list for the character Isadora, with details of what costume for each scene
4. Handwritten note from Kim Baker, Wardrobe Supervisor, on Royal Opera House headed notepaper, to Kenneth MacMillan enclosing photostats of the Extra Russian Peasants that Barry Kay, designer, would like. With three black and white photocopies attached. Undated
5. Three pages from a 1981 diary with a handwritten list of scenes with the extras/actors required for each scene. Four company names are included, in red ink. There is a note attached on a Royal Opera House compliment slip Still Need: 1 male extra
6. Photocopy of four typed pages of Points discussed between Mr MacMillan, Miss Baker and Miss Pullen, 8.8.1980. Gives a list of the Principal casting following cuts made, then a scene by scene list with characters appearing in each scene. From Janice Pullen, Wardrobe Director, Royal Opera House
7. Handwritten letter from Janice Pullen to Kenneth MacMillan, enclosing draft plots of Act I and II, following their meeting on 8th August (see item 2). Attached is a photocopy of a list of costumes required for each act
8. Four typed pages of a Resume of Principals, Company and Extras, as stated at the last meeting of 2.11.1980. There are annotations by Kenneth MacMillan giving the names of dancers for some roles, and further annotations by Kim Baker
9. Typed letter from Janice Pullen to Kenneth MacMillan, enclosing minutes of their last meeting. Attached are four typed pages recording the meeting held on 31.10.1980 in Sir John Tooley's office. The meeting discussed the additional costumes required due to a change in the set, and the notes include a break down of the number of characters appearing in each scene. There are annotations by Kenneth MacMillan
10. Photocopy of four pages of handwritten list of costume available and to be worn at the first dress rehearsal on 25th April. Costumes not available are highlighted in orange marker pen. Undated
11. Photocopy of 17 black and white photographs of the model set designed by Barry Kay, shown with changes between each scene. Undated
12. 13 pages, 12 photocopies and one of mounted images with Barry Kay's handwritten descriptions, of Projections and Effects. The 13 pages comprise a title page, two pages of description of themes, of the equipment required and a proposed working method, and ten pages of images for each scene requiring projections and a description and explanation. Undated
13. Seven pages of a handwritten list for Hand Props, detailing what props are required by which character for each scene. In blue biro and pencil, undated
14. Photocopy of four pages of a typed Preliminary Props List (3), 8 Aug 1981
15. Photocopy of four pages of a typed Preliminary Props List, as item 14 but with annotations
16. Inter Departmental Communication from Keith Gray, Ballet Stage Manager, to Kenneth MacMillan giving timings for each scene. Undated
17. Black and white photocopy of a design for character danced by Ross MacGibbon, with handwritten note by Kenneth MacMillan asking for change to the trousers (large)

The copy of the costume design is stored in Box 52
The five large Costume Plots are stored in Box 55A

Some large items have been stored flat in large box

Some items might be interesting for digitisation