Part 6 - Telegrams, Cards and Letters

Seven handwritten, two typed and one photocopy of a letter, three telegrams and one photocopy of a faxed telegram, six postcards, three cards and one ticket

The first performance of The Prince of the Pagodas formed part of the celebrations for Kenneth MacMillan's 60th birthday. The cards and telegrams celebrate both the first night of the ballet and his birthday, with some also being Christmas cards. The material comprises:

1. Ten letters, including handwritten letters from Margot Fonteyn, thanking Kenneth MacMillan for dedicating the ballet to her, from Anthony Dowell, Zoe Dominic, and Angela and Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate Gallery, typed letters from John Sainsbury, one congratulating MacMillan on the ballet, the other enclosing a copy of a letter from Edward, Duke of Kent saying how much he enjoyed the ballet
2. Three Christmas cards, from the students at White Lodge who appeared as pages, from Janet and Leo Kersley, and Colin Nears
3. Six postcards including one handwritten by Anya Sainsbury, wishing Kenneth a happy birthday and 'congratulations on your wonderful 'Pagodas'. The card includes a reference to a 'head' by Julian Sainsbury, presumably a birthday gift to Kenneth MacMillan from John and Anya Sainsbury
4. Four good luck telegrams from La Scala, National Ballet of Canada, the Hongkong Ballet, and Elaine McDonald (Scottish Ballet)
5. One invitation to the supper following the first performance of The Prince of the Pagodas, with handwritten list of names and a note from Kenneth MacMillan on the reverse.

Some of the letters would be interesting to digitise
The handwritten note by Kenneth MacMillan (item 5) contains an expletive
The faxed telegram from the National Ballet of Canada has been copied onto archival quality acid free paper and the original disposed of