Façade (1931)

A ballet in one act freely adapted to music originally written as a setting to poems by Edith Sitwell*

MUSIC

William Walton (1922)

SCENERY & COSTUMES

John Armstrong

DANCERS

Scotch Rhapsody: Prudence Hyman, Maude Lloyd, Antony Tudor; Jodelling Song: Milkmaid: Lydia Lopokova; Mountaineers: Frederick Ashton, William Chappell, Walter Gore; Polka: Alicia Markova; Valse: Pearl Argyle, Diana Gould, Maude Lloyd, Prudence Hyman; Popular Song: William Chappell, Walter Gore; Tango Pasodoble: Lydia Lopokova, Frederick Ashton; Finale – Tarantella Sevillana: Lydia Lopokova, Frederick Ashton, and ensemble

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Camargo Society, Cambridge Theatre, London, 26 April 1931

New Stagings / Productions

Ballet Club, London, 1931

STAGING

Ballet Club, London

DANCERS

As above except Milkmaid: Andrée Howard; Tango and Finale: Alicia Markova

FIRST PERFORMANCE

4 May 1931

Vic-Wells Ballet, 1935

NEW PRODUCTION

Vic-Wells Ballet; *subtitles added at this time, choreography and costumes both revised

DANCERS

Scotch Rhapsody: Mary Honer, Elizabeth Miller, Robert Helpmann; Swiss Yodelling Song: The Milkmaid: Gwyneth Mathews; Mountaineers: Harold Turner, Frederick Ashton, William Chappell; Polka: Margot Fonteyn; Waltz: Pamela May, June Brae, Beatrice Appleyard, Peggy Melliss; Popular Song: Harold Turner, William Chappell; Country Dance (new item): A Maiden: Pearl Argyle; A Yokel: Richard Ellis; The Squire: Robert Helpmann; Tango Pasodoble: A Debutante: Molly Brown; A Dago: Frederick Ashton; Tarantella Finale: Pearl Argyle, Frederick Ashton, and ensemble

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, 8 October 1935

Vic-Wells Ballet, 1940

NEW PRODUCTION

Vic-Wells Ballet; choreography further revised

SCENERY & COSTUMES

John Armstrong

DANCERS

Scotch Rhapsody (later called Ecossaise): Guinevere Parry, Molly Brown, Claude Newman; Noche Espagnola (Nocturne péruvienne) (new item): Frederick Ashton; Yodelling Song (Tyrolienne): The Milkmaid: Julia Farron; Mountaineers: John Hart, Michael Somes, Richard Ellis; Polka: Margot Fonteyn; Foxtrot (new item): June Brae, Pamela May, Robert Helpmann, Frederick Ashton; Waltz (Valse): Ann Spicer, Julia Farron, Palma Nye, Moyra Fraser; Popular Song: Richard Ellis, John Hart; Country Dance: A Maiden: Mary Honer; A Yokel: Michael Somes; The Squire: Robert Helpmann; Tango Pasodoble: A Debutante: Margot Fonteyn; A Dago: Frederick Ashton; Tarantella Finale: Margot Fonteyn, Frederick Ashton, and ensemble

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, 23 July 1940

Sadler’s Wells Opera Ballet, 1946

NEW PRODUCTION

Sadler’s Wells Opera (later Theatre) Ballet; new items omitted

SCENERY & COSTUMES

As 1940

DANCERS

Polka: Anne Heaton; Popular Song: Donald Britton, Alexander Grant; Tango Pasodoble: June Brae, Frederick Ashton

On 2 June 1949 the scenery and costumes were destroyed by fire at the Theatre Royal, Hanley; for a brief period following this the ballet was performed in the original decor, borrowed from Ballet Rambert, but with new costumes made from the 1940 designs

Sadler’s Wells Ballet, 1949

NEW PRODUCTION

Sadler’s Wells Ballet; new items omitted

SCENERY & COSTUMES

As 1940

DANCERS

Polka: Moira Shearer; Popular Song: Michael Boulton, Donald Britton; Tango Pasodoble: Moira Shearer, Frederick Ashton

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, London, 1 August 1949

Foxtrot and Country Dance added 20 June 1950, with new costumes for these numbers and minor revisions in the finale

Country Dance dropped again as from 7 April 1951

At two performances on 5/7 May 1956 the Nocturne péruvienne was restored, and again during the company’s tour of Australia, 1958-1959: Dancer Robert Helpmann

Royal Ballet New Group, 1972

NEW PRODUCTION

Royal Ballet New Group; music performed in its original form, with narration by Peter Pears; original choreographic version plus Foxtrot, with abbreviated Finale

SCENERY & COSTUMES

As 1940

DANCERS

Polka: Carole Hill; Popular Song: Nicholas Johnson, David Morse; Tango Pasodoble: Margaret Barbieri, Hendrik Davel

FIRST PERFORMANCE

The Maltings, Snape, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, 28 July 1972; Sadler’s Wells Theatre, 9 October 1972

At later performances the music was again performed in the orchestral version

Ballet for All, 1972

STAGING

Ballet for All, in Birth of the Royal Ballet; Yodelling Song only

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, 13 October 1972

Birmingham Royal Ballet, 1993

NEW PRODUCTION

Birmingham Royal Ballet: original version plus Foxtrot

SCENERY & COSTUMES

as 1940

DANCERS

Polka: Sandra Madgwick; Popular Song: Samuel Armstrong, James Bailey; Tango Pasodoble: David Morse, Chenca Williams

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, 2 February 1993

Royal Ballet Lower School, 2007

STAGING

Royal Ballet Lower School: Foxtrot and Popular Song only

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Dance East, Chandos Lodge, Eye, Suffolk, 1 July 2007

By Other Companies

Borovansky Ballet, c. 1946

NEW PRODUCTION

Borovansky Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Laurel Martyn

SCENERY & COSTUMES

William Constable (after John Armstrong, 1931 version)

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Australia, c. 1946

Repertory Ballet Theatre of New Zealand, 1946

NEW PRODUCTION

Repertory Ballet Theatre of New Zealand; excerpts only

REPRODUCED BY

Yvonne Cartier and Jill Beachen, after Laurel Martyn’s Borovansky version

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Auckland, New Zealand, July 1946

Illinois Ballet, 1959

NEW PRODUCTION

Illinois Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Richard Ellis

SCENERY

Dom Orejudos

FIRST PERFORMANCE

St Alphonsus Theater, Chicago IL, 25 September 1959

New Zealand Ballet, 1960

NEW PRODUCTION

New Zealand Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Walter Trevor

SCENERY & COSTUMES

Raymond Boyce (?)

FIRST PERFORMANCE

South Island, New Zealand, 1960

Ballet of the Norske Opera, 1960

STAGING

Ballet of the Norske Opera

REPRODUCED BY

Harold Turner

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Opera House, Oslo, 4 October 1960

PACT Ballet Company, 1965

STAGING

PACT Ballet Company

REPRODUCED BY

Alexander Bennett

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Johannesburg, 1965

NAPAC Ballet Company, 1966

STAGING

NAPAC Ballet Company

REPRODUCED BY

Joan Blakeney

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Durban, 17 May 1966

Joffrey Ballet, 1969

STAGING

Joffrey Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

John Hart and Richard Ellis

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Auditorium Theatre, Chicago IL, 28 January 1969

Répétition générale for the Greatest Show on Earth, 1971

STAGING

Répétition générale for the Greatest Show on Earth; Popular Song only

DANCERS

Doreen Wells, John Gilpin

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Coliseum, London, 22 June 1971

Minnesota Dance Theatre, 1972

NEW PRODUCTION

Minnesota Dance Theatre

REPRODUCED BY

Brian Shaw

SCENERY

Jack Barkla

COSTUMES

Judy Cooper and Peter Hauschild

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Jacob’s Pillow, Lee MA, 25 July 1972

The Australian Ballet, 1972

STAGING

The Australian Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Peggy van Praagh

SCENERY & COSTUMES

John Armstrong (1940)

DANCERS

Nocturne Péruvienne: Robert Helpmann; Polka: Lucette Aldous; A Debutante: Carolyn Rappel; A Dago: Robert Helpmann

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Princess Theatre, Melbourne, 8 September 1972

Chicago Ballet, 1975

STAGING

Chicago Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Richard Ellis and Christine Du Boulay

SCENERY & COSTUMES

Dom Orejudos

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Ruth Page Foundation Theatre, Chicago IL, 2 October 1975

Ballet van Vlaanderen, 1976

STAGING

Ballet van Vlaanderen

REPRODUCED BY

Joy Newton

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Royal Opera House, Antwerp, 10 January 1976

Houston Ballet, 1978

STAGING

Houston Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Richard Ellis

SCENERY

(1931) John Armstrong

COSTUMES

(1940) John Armstrong

DANCERS

Tango: Gwen Verdon, Ben Stevenson

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Jones Hall, Houston TX, 2 March 1978

Washington Ballet, 1983

STAGING

Washington Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Brian Shaw

DANCERS

Polka: Denise Jackson; Popular Song: Gary Chryst, Jay Jolley; Tango Pasodoble: Antoinette Sibley, Anthony Dowell

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Palm Beach Festival, West Palm Beach Auditorium, Palm Beach FL, 22 March 1983

Banff Center, 1984

STAGING

Banff Center

REPRODUCED BY

Alexander Grant and Robin Ryman

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Banff Center, Banff, Alberta, Canada, 1984

Royal Winnipeg Ballet, 1984

STAGING

Royal Winnipeg Ballet (taken over from Banff Center, see above)

REPRODUCED BY

Alexander Grant and Robin Ryman

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall, Manitoba, 26 December 1984

Colorado Ballet, 1991

STAGING

Colorado Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Brian Shaw (restaged 1993 by Alexander Grant)

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Auditorium Theater, Denver CO, 22 March 1991

Ballet of the Teatro Regio, 1992

STAGING

Ballet of the Teatro Regio

REPRODUCED BY

Alexander Grant and Faith Worth

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Teatro Regio, Torino, 18 January 1992

Oregon Ballet Theatre, 2004

STAGING

Oregon Ballet Theatre

REPRODUCED BY

Alexander Grant and Margaret Barbieri

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Newmark Theatre, Portland OR, 7 May 2004

Images of Dance, 2004

STAGING

Images of Dance (London Studio Centre Company)

REPRODUCED BY

Alexander Grant and Margaret Barbieri

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, 4 June 2004

Scottish Ballet, 2005

STAGING

Scottish Ballet

REPRODUCED BY

Margaret Barbieri and Alexander Grant

DANCERS

Polka: Tomomi Sato; Popular Song: Glauco Di Lieto; Tango Pasodoble: Claire Robertson, Cristo Vivancos

FIRST PERFORMANCE

Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 13 April 2005