review of a triple bill of Gloria, The Judas Tree and Danses concertantes, 2003, large

Articles about the making of and reviews of performances of The Judas Tree, including four large

Photograph of Kenneth MacMillan with Viviana Durante during a break in rehearsals for The Judas Tree

Kenneth MacMillan created this one act ballet for The Royal Ballet which received its first performance on 19 Mar 1992 at the Royal Opera House, London. The score was commissioned from Brian Elias with designs by Jock McFadyen

The file contains correspondence before and after the first performance of The Judas Tree. The material comprises

1. One handwritten fax by Kenneth MacMillan to The Evening Standard querying comments in the paper given in advance of the first night. On The Royal Ballet headed notepaper, undated
2. Typed letter from C. N. Henty-Dodd to Kenneth MacMillan, cancelling his tickets to the first night following the article in the Evening Standard. Suggesting The Judas Tree be replaced with the story of a mystic snow goose, 13 Mar 1992
3. Two page handwritten letter from The Rev.Dr.John Brothwood to Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan, thanking them for the tickets and giving a response to The Judas Tree, 20 Jan 1992. With a note by Jann Parry giving the date of Dr Brothwood's ordination in Southwark Cathedral and that Kenneth and Deborah attended
4. Good luck telegram from Garry Trinder, NAPAC, 16 Mar 1992
5. One page handwritten letter from Jock McFadyen to Kenneth MacMillan expressing his admiration for Kenneth MacMillan and the work and stating 'it's a privilege to have been involved with it', 19 Mar 1992
6. Handwritten card from Anthony Dowell to Kenneth MacMillan sending love and good wishes for a great success. Accompanied a 'brutal looking gift', 19 Mar 1992
7. One page handwritten letter from Cormac Rigby to Kenneth MacMillan congratulating him and giving an analysis of the ballet. On Church of The Most Sacred Heart headed notepaper. 20 Mar 1992
8. One page typed letter from June Williams, Composer Manager at Chester Music, London, praising the ballet. 2 Apr 1992
9. One handwritten card of congratulations from Chris and Lester. 3 Apr 1992
10. One photocopy of a handwritten letter from Kenneth MacMillan to Brian Elias thanking him for his letter and for his music for the ballet. 8 Apr 1992
11. One handwritten fax from Kenneth Williams (sic) to Ali Bongo thanking him for all his help on The Judas Tree. On Kenneth MacMillan & Partner headed notepaper. 8 Apr 1992

In 1993 Kenneth MacMillan's one-act ballet The Judas Tree was nominated for the Best New Dance Production, and Carousel was nominated for the Best Musical Revival. This file contains Deborah MacMillan's handwritten acceptance speech, one typed letter to Deborah MacMillan detailing arrangements for the evening with one typed page of timetable, 10 Apr 1993, two printed invitations to the Champagne Reception and Celebration Dinner, two ticket envelopes, two ticket stubs, one printed brochure giving seating arrangement for the Celebration Dinner and two souvenir programmes.

The material in this file contains research material relating to the religious background for this ballet. It comprises

1. One handwritten letter from The Rev. Dr. John Brothwood to Deborah and Kenneth MacMillan accompanying some background on the apostles. Dr Brothwood promises to send more information if he can find any. 14 Dec 1991
2. Two pages of photocopies of four pages from The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels, published by Penguin, 1990.
3. 12 pages of photocopies of 24 pages from an uncredited publication. They give brief biographies of the apostles and disciples, listed in date order of their saint's day. The names of some apostles and disciples have been underlined in yellow marker pen and there are some under-linings and notes by Kenneth MacMillan in blue felt-tip pen.
4. Eight pages of photocopies of 16 pages from Words and Idioms Associated with Judas Iscariot, by Wayland D Hand, with note of publication and British Library catalogue reference (large)
5. 19 pages of photocopies of 37 pages from The Mediavel Legend of Judas Iscariot by Paull Fanklin Baum, with note of publication and British Library catalogue reference (large)
6. 12 pages of photocopies of 24 pages from Tales From Ulithi Atoll by William A Lessa, with note of publication and British Library catalogue reference (large)
7. Five typed pages of Notes on Mary and Judas taken from series That Week in Jerusalem (Ronald Eyre/BBC 1) Easter Week 1991. Mary Madgalene was played by Juliet Stevenson and Judas Iscariot by Bruce Alexander. The notes give background and character details, and notes of significant events. They also discuss their position in society

Reviews of Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet, The Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet in six performances at the Royal Opera House of Le Baiser de la fee, Concerto, Elite Syncopations, Gloria, Song of the Earth, The Judas Tree, Jeux and Sea of Troubles

Kenneth MacMillan won the International Emmy Award for A Lot of Happiness, a ballet created for Granada Televsion in 1982, and for The Judas Tree, his final work for The Royal Ballet in 1992. The material in this file includes a memo and letter about A Lot of Happiness, 1982, a press release from the Royal Opera House about the television film of Kenneth MacMillan's ballet The Judas Tree winning the Emmy Award, 1992, and a Granada Golden Jubilee publication giving a history of the Granada Group of Companies including A Lot of Happiness winning the International Emmy Award, with photograph. There is a compliments slip from Herbert Ross with the publication

Correspondence and typed material comprising

1. One typed letter from Tirzah Lowen about a book proposal on 'theatre beyond words' in which she would like to include the process of making a production. 8 Mar 1991. With Kenneth MacMillan's typed reply explaining that he is nervous to have anyone in the room initially but maybe she could attend some later rehearsals, 12 Jul 1991
2. Two typed pages of a review of The Judas Tree by Eric Bolton
3. Copy of a typed letter from James Rushton, Managing Director of Chester Music, to Anthony Russell-Roberts, Administrative Director of The Royal Ballet expressing his disappointment at the postponement of a revival of The Judas Tree and the effect this would have on the possibility of filming the ballet, 31 Mar 1995
4. One typed letter from the External Lectures Committee of the British Psycho-Analytical Society, London, to Deborah MacMillan thanking her for Irek Mukhamedov's schedule and the possibility of a talk when he is next appearing in The Judas Tree, 25 Jul 1996
5. Two copies of a typed note by Deborah MacMillan describing the genesis of the ballet and its content. With a hand-written note to Hywel David at the Royal Opera House describing her journey to the East End. Undated