INTRODUCTION
Ballet Rambert (BR) is today the oldest existing dance company in England. It was founded in 1930 by Marie Rambert (MR), whose balletic lineage can be traced back to Isadora Duncan, E. Jacques-Dalcroze, S. Diaghilev, V. Nijinsky, Cecchetti and S. Astafieva. It was from these sources that she created an English ballet company with an understated style. This young, small company of thirty dancers under the personal direction of MR arrived in Australia in October 1947 under the entrepreneur D.D. O’Connor in association with the British Council as the first major overseas company to visit Australia after World War II. The Australian public, who had been exposed in the pre-war period to a virtuosic and exuberant Russian style on a large scale, began to appreciate the smaller works presented with such realism. BR introduced a different concept of ballet to Australians -- as art and not spectacle.
Their impact was immediate and significant. Many Australians joined the company on tour, such as Cecil Bates, Ruth Boker, Charles Boyd (a former BR member), Rachel Cameron, June Florenz, Joan and Monica Halliday, Kathleen Lamb, Marita Lowden, Moira Peoples, Ann Somers (or Kathleen Gorham), Basil Truro (or Vassilie Trunoff ) including David Hunt who returned to Australia with BR and they in turn influenced future generations of dancers. Some of the BR dancers remained in Australia and contributed to the development of dance, these being Joyce Graeme, Brenda Hamlyn, Rex Reid and Margaret Scott. When the tour finished some of the Australians went with the company to England to further their careers, Ann Somers being one example.
The tour was organised initially for six months but due to public pressure was extended to fifteen months which made MR send home on two occasions for more ballets to cope with the demand. The repertoire included contemporary and classical works and introduced a new generation of English choreographers such as Antony Tudor, Frederick Ashton, Walter Gore and Andree Howard and Ninette de Valois. One ballet Winter night was created in Australia and had its world premiere in Melbourne giving designer Kenneth Rowell his first major success. The idea for an Australian work based on the mystic beliefs of the Aborigines, Dhoogar was presented to the company but not taken up by them.
Their itinerary included two Australian seasons interrupted by a four month tour of New Zealand. The first season of 28 weeks took in Melbourne, Broken Hill and Sydney. The second season of 18 weeks began in Brisbane then Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. In that time they gave over 500 performances of 33 ballets, introduced 26 new English creations as well as revived several classics by Coralli & Perrot, M. Fokine, Lev Ivanov, Vaslav Nijinsky and Petipa.
LISTINGS
There are two listings of the BR tour based on the incomplete holdings of programmes, printed ephemera and reviews in the National Library of Australia’s PROMPT Collection. The lists are being updated as material is acquired to fill the gaps.
Chronological
This list reflects the itinerary order of the tour and gives researchers the opportunity to investigate the tour programme by programme as well as the number of performances given per ballet. It identifies additional material like ephemera and reviews. The material is arranged in this order.
Repertoire
This alphabetical list gives details of each ballet ; its primary creators ; where known, identifies in bold the Australian involvement particularly the Australian dancers and the roles they performed during the tour ; and a premiere date. Pask’s Ballet in Australia : the second act, 1940-1980 (Melbourne, 1982) is used as an additional source.
Access
Material from the PROMPT collection is available for use through the Petherick Reading Room, Ground Floor. Readers should complete an electronic call slip for the following catalogue record:
The Library is also strong in non-print materials associated with the tour. Pictorial materials are accessed through the Pictorial Reading Room, manuscripts in the Manuscript Reading Room and oral history interviews through the Oral History Reading Room. A search on the Library’s OPAC will find additional books about the company.
CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING
FIRST AUSTRALIAN SEASON, 17th Oct. 1947 - 1st May 1948 [28 week season]
| 1947-1948 |
BR the tour of Australia and New Zealand, 1947-1948 / edited by Tatlock Miller ; photographed by Alex Murray ; designed and decorated by Loudon Sainthill. Sydney. {50} p. |
| 1947, 17 Oct. - 1948. 24th Jan. Melbourne, 1st season, Princess Theatre [14 weeks] |
|
| 1947, 17-23 Oct. Programme 1 | Giselle Soiree musicale Gala performance Cover design by Daryl Lindsay · Advertisement for 1st Melbourne season (Photocopy) |
| 1947, 24-30 Oct. Programme 2 | Swan Lake, Act II Simple symphony Jardin aux lilas Facade (Original version) Cover design by Daryl Lindsay · Reviews incl. |
| 1947, 31 Oct.-6 Nov. Programme 3 | Les sylphides The fugitive The sleeping princess. Blue bird pas de deux Peter and the wolf Autographs of company in one copy · Reviews incl. |
| 1947, 7-13 Nov. Programme 4 | Plaisance The planets Les masques Peter and the wolf |
| 1947, 14-20 Nov. Programme 5 | Swan Lake, Act II Death and the maiden Mermaid Gala performance
|
| 1947, 21-27 Nov. Programme 6 | Les sylphides L’Apres-midi d’un faune Simple symphony Bar aux Folies-Bergere |
| 1947, 28 Nov.-4 Dec. Programme 7 | Giselle Czernyana · Reviews incl. |
| 1947, 5 –11 Dec. Programme 8 | Les sylphides The sleeping princess. Blue bird pas de deux Jardin aux lilas Mr. Punch |
| 1947, 12-18 Dec. Programme 9 | Swan Lake, Act II Soiree musicale Lady into fox Facade (Original version) · Reviews incl. |
| 1947, 19-25? Dec. Programme 10 | Plaisance The sleeping princess. Blue bird pas de deux Peter and the wolf · Reviews incl. |
| 1947, Dec. 26- 1948, 1 Jan. Programme 11 | Swan Lake, Act II Peter and the wolf Spanish divertissement Mr. Punch · Reviews incl. |
| 1948, 2-8 Jan. Programme 12 | Capriol suite Spectre de la rose The sailor's return · Reviews incl. |
| 1948, 9-15 Jan. Programme 13 | Swan Lake, Act II Mephisto valse The planets Gala performance Reviews, flyers incl. |
| 1948, 16-20 Jan. Programme 14 | Czernyana Mephisto valse Death and the maiden Bar aux Folies-Bergere · Reviews, flyer incl. |
| 1948, 21-24 Jan. Programme 15 (farewell) |
Swan Lake, Act II Mephisto valse Lady into fox Facade (Original version) · Reviews, flyer |
| 1948, 26 - 28 Jan. Broken Hill, Crystal Theatre [3 day season] |
No programmes held |
| 1948, 31 Jan. - 1 May Sydney, 1st season, Tivoli Theatre [8 week season] |
|
| 1948, 31 Jan.-13 Feb. Programme 1 | Swan Lake, Act II Lady into fox Soiree musicale Peter and the wolf · Advertisement incl. |
| 1948, 14 –27 Feb. Programme 2 | Giselle The sleeping princess. Blue bird pas de deux Gala performance |
| 1948, 28 Feb.-12 Mar. Programme 3 | Les sylphides Simple symphony The fugitive Bar aux Folies-Bergere |
| 1948, 13-26 Mar. Programme 4 | The planets Jardin aux lilas Facade (Original version) Casse-Noisette, Act II |
| 1948, 27 Mar.-9 Apr. Programme 5 | Swan Lake, Act II Czernyana Death and the maiden Mr. Punch |
| 1948, 10-23 Apr. Programme 6 | Casse-Noisette, Act II The sailor's return |
| 1948, 24 Apr.-1 May. Programme 7 (farewell) |
Plaisance Lady into fox Spectre de la rose Bar aux Folies- |
NEW ZEALAND SEASON, May - Sept. 1948
| Auckland, 7 May - 3 June St. James Theatre [4 month season] |
|
| 1948, 7-14 May Programme | Les Sylphides Simple symphony The fugitive Peter and the Wolf |
| 1948, 21-27 May Programme | Giselle Soiree musicale Facade (Original version) |
| 1948, 28 May-3 June Programme | Plaisance Lady into fox Casse-Noisette, Act II Bar aux Folies-Bergere |
SECOND AUSTRALIAN SEASON, 11th Sept. - 13th Jan. 1949 [18 week season]
| 1948, 11 Sept. - 1 Oct. Brisbane, His Majesty's Theatre [3 week season] |
|
| 1948, 18-24 Sept. Programme 2 | Plaisance Jardin aux lilas Facade (Original version) Casse-Noisette, Act II |
| 1948, 25 Sept.-1 Oct. Programme 3 | Swan Lake, Act II Lady into fox Death and the maiden Gala performance |
| 1948, 4 Oct. - 16 Oct. Sydney, 2nd season, Tivoli Theatre [2 week season] |
|
| 1948, 4-10 Oct. Programme 1 | Plaisance Judgment of Paris Giselle |
| 1948, 11-16 Oct. Programme 2 | The planets Concerto burlesco Lady into fox Casse-Noisette, Act II |
| 1948, 20 Oct. - 13 Nov. Adelaide, Theatre Royal [3 week season] |
|
| 1948, 20-26 Oct. Programme 1 | Les sylphides Simple symphony The fugitive Peter and the wolf |
| 1948, 3-9 Nov. Programme 3 | Swan Lake, Act II Death and the maiden Lady into fox Gala performance |
| 1948, 10-13 Nov. Programme 4 (farewell) |
Plaisance Death and the maiden The descent of Hebe Casse-Noisette, Act II |
| 1948, 19 Nov. - 20 Dec. Melbourne, 2nd season, His Majesty's Theatre [4 week season] |
|
| 1948, 19 Nov.-2 Dec. Programme 1 | Descent of Hebe Carnival of animals Winter night Casse-Noisette, Act II · Advertisement |
| 1948, 3-9 Dec. Programme 2 | Swan Lake, Act II Concerto burlesco Dark elegies Bar aux Folies-Bergere |
| 1948, 10-20 Dec. Programme 3 | Plaisance Judgment of Paris The sailor's return |
| 1948, 27 Dec. - 1949, 13 Jan. Perth, Capitol Theatre [2 ½ week season] |
No programmes held |
REPERTOIRE : ALPHABETICAL LISTING
[A] , [B], [C], [D], [F], [G], [J], [L], [M], [N], [P], [S], [W]
L’Apres midi d’un faune (1912)
Choreography - Vaslav Nijinsky
Music – Claude Debussy’s orchestral Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune illustrating Mallarme’s poem
Décor – Leon Bakst
Premiere Nov. 21, 1947, Melbourne
Bar aux Folies-Bergere
Choreography – Ninette de Valois based on Manet’s painting
Music – Alexis Chabrier
Décor – William Chappell
Australian dancers : Charles Boyd (Old man), David Hunt and Cecil Bates (Drunks), Basil Truro (Valentin the waiter), June Florenz (Can-Can dancer)
Australian dancers in NZ : Basil Truro (Valentin the waiter), Charles Boyd (Old man), David Hunt, Cecil Bates (Drunks)
Australian premiere Nov. 21, 1947, Melbourne
Bluebird pas de deux
SEE The sleeping princess. Bluebird pas de deux
Capriol suite
Choreography – Frederick Ashton
Music – Peter Warlock’s arr. sixteenth century peasant dances
Costumes – William Chappell
Australian premiere Jan.2, 1948, Melbourne
Carnival of animals
Choreography and decor – Andree Howard
Music – C. Saint-Saens
Australian dancers : Charles Boyd (Lion), Joan Halliday (Cock), Cecil Bates (Tortoise), June Florenz (Mrs Kangaroo), Ruth Boker and Marita Lowden (Fish), Ann Somers (Cuckoo)
Premiere Nov. 19, 1948, Melbourne
Casse-Noisette, Act II or The Nutcracker suite, Act II
Choreography – Lev Ivanov
Music – P. Tchaikovsky
Décor – Harry Cordwell
Australian dancers : Ann Somers (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Ruth Boker (Sugar sticks), Monica Halliday (Sugar stick), Charles Boyd (Chinese dance) and David Hunt (Arabian dance), Basil Truro (Russian dance), June Florenz, Joan Halliday Marita Lowden, Moira Peoples (Fairies), Cecil Bates (Chinese dance)
Australian dancers in NZ : Ann Somers (Sugar Plum Fairy, Sugar stick), Joan and Monica Halliday (Sugar sticks), Charles Boyd, Cecil Bates (Chinese dance), David Hunt (Arabian dance), Basil Truro (Russian dance), June Florenz, Marita Lowden (Fairies)
Premiere Mar. 13, 1948, Sydney
Concerto burlesco
Choreography – Walter Gore
Music – B. Bartok arr. Arthur Oldham
Décor - Eve Swinstead-Smith
Australian dancers : Charles Boyd (Chucker out, Virtuoso of the piano), Basil Truro (Lover), David Hunt (Latecomer), Marita Lowden, Joan Halliday, Cecil Bates (Virtuosi of the piano), Cecil Bates (Lover)
Premiere Oct. 11, 1948, Sydney
Czernyana
Choreography - Frank Staff
Music – K. Czerny
Décor – Eve Swinstead-Smith
Australian dancers : Charles Boyd (Se habla espanol), Basil Truro (Nuage)
Premiere Nov. 28, 1947, Melbourne
Dark elegies
Choreography - Antony Tudor
Music – G. Mahler’s song cycle Kindertotenlieder
Décor – Nadia Benois
Singer – Stefan Haag
Australian dancers : Charles Boyd (Third song, Fifth song), David Hunt, Cecil Bates, Ruth Boker (Fifth song)
Australian premiere Dec. 3, 1948, Melbourne
Death and the maiden
Choreography and costumes - Andree Howard
Music – F. Schubert’s Andante cantabile, D minor quartet
Australian dancers : Cecil Bates, June Florenz, Moira Peoples (Shadows)
Premiere Nov. 14, 1947, Melbourne
Descent of Hebe
Choreography - Antony Tudor
Music – E. Bloch
Décor – Nadia Benois
Australian dancers : June Florenz, Moira Peoples (Night’s nymphs), Ann Somers, Joan and Monica Halliday (Hebe’s nymphs)
Premiere Nov. 10, 1948, Adelaide
Facade (Original version)
Choreography – Frederick Ashton
Music – W. Walton
Décor – J. Armstrong
Australian dancers : Cecil Bates (Scotch rhapsody), Basil Truro (Yodelling, Popular songs), Ann Somers (Polka), Marita Lowden (Valse)
Australian dancers in NZ : Cecil Bates (Scotch rhapsody), Basil Truro (Yodelling, Popular songs)
Premiere Oct. 24, 1947, Melbourne
The fugitive
Choreography - Andree Howard
Music – L. Salzedo
Décor and costumes – Hugh Stevenson
Australian dancers : Charles Boyd (The fugitive), David Hunt, Cecil Bates, Ann Somers (Guests)
Premiere Feb. 28, 1948, Sydney
Gala performance
Choreography - Antony Tudor
Music – S. Prokofiev
Décor – Hugh Stevenson
Australian dancers : Basil Truro, David Hunt (Cavaliers), Ann Somers, Joan and Monica Halliday (Coryphees), Charles Boyd (Conductor)
Premiere Oct. 17, 1947, Melbourne
Giselle
Choreography – Coralli & Perrot
Music – Adolphe Adam
Décor – Hugh Stevenson
Australian dancers : Rachel Cameron, Marita Lowden, June Florenz, Ann Somers, Joan and Monica Halliday, Moira Peoples, Ruth Boker (Giselle’s friends, Wilis), David Hunt, Cecil Bates, Basil Truro (Courtiers), Charles Boyd (The prince, Wilfred), Kathleen Lamb (Lady in waiting)
Australian dancers in NZ : Charles Boyd (Wilfred), Basil Truro (The Prince), Marita Lowden, June Florenz, Ann Somers, Joan and Monica Halliday (Giselle’s friends, Wilis), David Hunt, Cecil Bates (Courtiers)
Premiere : Oct. 17, 1947, Melbourne
Jardin aux lilas
Choreography - Antony Tudor
Music – E. Chausson’s Poeme for violin and orchestra
Décor – Hugh Stevenson
Solo violin Leonard Dommett (also Leader), Lionel Lawson
Australian dancers : David Hunt, Charles Boyd (Guest)
Australian premiere Oct. 24, 1947, Melbourne
Judgment of Paris
Choreography - Antony Tudor
Music – K. Weill
Theme and costumes – Hugh Laing
Australian dancer : Charles Boyd
Australian premiere Oct. 4, 1948, Sydney
Lady into fox
Choreography - Andree Howard adaptn David Garnett’s novel
Music – A. Honeggar arr. A. Dorati
Décor – Nadia Benois
Australian dancers : David Hunt (Huntsman), Cecil Bates (Huntsman, Guest), Charles Boyd (Mr Tebrick), June Florenz, Joan Halliday, Moira Peoples (Guests)
Australian premiere Dec. 12, 1947, Melbourne
Les masques
Choreography – Frederick Ashton
Music – F. Poulenc
Décor – Sophie Fedorovitch
Premiere Nov. 7, 1947, Melbourne
Mephisto valse
Choreography - Frederick Ashton
Music – F. Liszt
Décor – Sophie Fedorovitch
Australian dancers : David Hunt, Cecil Bates (Young men)
Australian premiere Jan. 9, 1948, Melbourne
Mermaid
Choreography - Andree Howard & Susan Salaman
Music – M. Ravel
Décor - Andree Howard
Australian dancers : June Florenz (Other mermaid), David Hunt (Prince’s friend)
Premiere Nov. 14, 1947, Melbourne
Mr Punch
Choreography - Walter Gore
Music – Arthur Oldham
Décor – Ronald Wilson
Australian dancer : Cecil Bates (Devil)
Premiere Dec. 5, 1947, Melbourne
The nutcracker suite, Act II
SEE Casse-Noisette
Peter and the wolf
Choreography – Frank Staff
Music – S. Prokofiev
Decor – Guy Sheppard
Narrator – Walter Gore
Australian dancers : David Hunt (Grandfather), Basil Truro (Wolf), Ann Somers (Bird), Charles Boyd (Huntsman), June Florenz (Hunter)
Australian premiere Oct. 31, 1947, Melbourne
Plaisance
Choreography - Walter Gore
Music – G. Rossini
Décor – Harry Cordwell
Australian dancers : Cecil Bates, David Hunt, Basil Truro
Australian dancers in NZ: Cecil Bates, David Hunt, Basil Truro
Premiere Nov. 7, 1947, Melbourne
The planets
Choreography – Antony Tudor
Music – G. Holst
Décor – Hugh Stevenson
Australian dancers : June Florenz, Ruth Boker (Satellites of Venus), Rachel Cameron, Marita Lowden, Monica Halliday, Moira Peoples (Satellites of Mars), Ann Somers (Mortal born under Mercury)
Premiere Nov. 7, 1947, Melbourne
The sailor's return
Choreography and décor - Andree Howard of David Garnett’s novel
Music – A. Oldham
Australian dancers : Ann Somers, Ruth Boker (Natives of Dahomey), Marita Lowden (Native of Dahomey, Mrs Clall), June Florenz (Native of Dahomey, New tenant of “The sailor’s return”), Charles Boyd (Native of Dahomey, Mr Stingo, New tenant of “The Sailor’s Return”, Harry Target), David Hunt (Native of Dahomey, Carter, Sea captain), Cecil Bates (Native of Dahomey, Mr Stingo, Simpleton, The Rev. Adrian Cronk), Basil Truro (Harry Target), Joan Halliday (Village lady)
Australian premiere Jan. 2, 1948, Melbourne
Simple symphony
Choreography - Walter Gore
Music – B. Britten
Décor – Ronald Wilson
Australian dancers : Basil Truro, Charles Boyd, Cecil Bates, Marita Lowden, Ann Somers, Monica and Joan Halliday
Australian premiere Oct. 25, 1947, Melbourne
The sleeping princess. Bluebird pas de deux
Choreography – Petipa
Music – P. Tchaikovsky
Costumes – Harry Cordwell
Premiere Oct. 31, 1947, Melbourne
Soiree musicale
Choreography – Antony Tudor
Music – G. Rossini arr. B. Britten
Décor – Hugh Stevenson
Australian dancer : David Hunt (Canzonetta)
Australian dancers in NZ : David Hunt (Canzonetta), Basil Truro (Tyrolese)
Premiere Oct. 17, 1947, Melbourne
Spanish divertissement
Choreography – Elsa Brunelleschi
Music – Albeniz ; Trad. ; Jose Sentis
Premiere Dec. 26, 1947, Melbourne
Spectre de la rose
Choreography – M. Fokine
Music – C.M. von Weber
Costumes – Leon Bakst
Premiere Jan. 2, 1948, Melbourne
Swan Lake, Act II
Choreography – Petipa & L. Ivanov
Music – P. Tchaikovsky
Décor – Harry Cordwell
Australian dancers : June Florenz, Marita Lowden, Ruth Boker, Moira Peoples (Swans), David Hunt, Cecil Bates, Charles Boyd (Huntsmen), Joan Halliday (Swan, Pas de quatre, Pas de trois), Monica Halliday (Swan, Pas de quatre), Ann Somers (Swan, Pas de trois, Swan princess), Basil Truro (Pas de trois)
Premiere Oct. 25, 1947, Melbourne
Les sylphides
Choreography – M. Fokine
Music – F. Chopin
Décor – Ronald Wilson
Australian dancers : June Florenz, Marita Lowden, Rachel Cameron, Ruth Boker, Ann Somers, Joan and Monica Halliday (Nocturne)
Premiere Oct. 31, 1947, Melbourne
Winter night
Choreography – Walter Gore
Music – S. Rachmaninov
Décor – Kenneth Rowell
Australian dancers : Ann Somers, Joan and Monica Halliday, June Florenz, Charles Boyd, Cecil Bates, David Hunt
World premiere Nov. 19, 1948, Melbourne
Miscellaneous
Ballet Rambert 60th Birthday Performance, Wednesday 11th June 1986, Sadler's Wells Theatre, London. - This performance was given in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in aid of the Ballet Rambert Appeal.
