File 14 - Romeo and Juliet

Identity area

Reference code

RAD/2/MAC/3/3/14

Title

Romeo and Juliet

Date(s)

  • 1970, 1980, Undated (Creation)

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File

Extent and medium

Six bound volumes and three pages of Benesh Movement Notation scores

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Name of creator

(1929-12-11 - 1992-10-29)

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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Scope and content

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. The ballet continues to be performed regularly by The Royal Ballet and is also in the repertory of ballet companies around the world. There are five files relating to the Benesh Movement Notation score, mostly the rough score recorded by Faith Worth with some later material recorded by Tom Steuart. This file contains part of the rough score by Faith Worth and comprises

  1. One handwritten title page giving a list of the book numbers and contents, in black biro, undated
  2. Book 5, ring bound with blue card covers, Act II, Romeo solo + 3 Ladies of the Town + Mercutio + Benvolio (Part 1) handwritten in black biro, and Romeo and Juliet written in green felt tip pen, with five pages of score in pencil
  3. Book 15, ring bound with blue card covers, Romeo and Juliet Act II and Act III with the dances handwritten in blue biro, and Checked 1970 in top left corner, with eight pages of score in pencil
  4. Book 15A, ring bound with blue card covers, Act 2 Marriage Scene/Friar Lawrence, Juliet gets potion from Friar Lawrence handwritten in blue biro. Further details in pencil crossed out, with five pages of score in pencil. No back cover
  5. Book 13, ring bound with blue card covers, Romeo and Julie Act II No 30 (-after Marriage) Crowd Scene and Ton-Up, handwritten in black biro, Checked 1970 in top left corner, with 20 pages of score in pencil. Handwritten pencil notes on back cover have been crossed out
  6. Book 9, ring bound with blue card covers, Romeo Act II Sword Fight (with 1980 New Fight), Act III Family Scene - after Bedroom P de D, and Act II Mother (Lady Capulet - Tyb's death) handwritten in blue felt tip pen, some annotations in red and green felt tip pen, with nine pages of score in pencil with blue biro markings. No back cover
  7. Book 17, ring bound with blue card covers, Romeo Act II Mercutio's Death, Lead into Romeo fight with Tybalt, and Act III Dead P de D handwritten in blue felt pen, with annotations in red and green felt tip pen, with six pages of score in pencil
  8. Two pages of score, in pencil, Dead P de D

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