International Ballet / The Sleeping Princess - photographs?

[Sebastian]

I am looking for production stills of The Sleeping Princess, as performed by Mona Ingelsby’s company, International Ballet, which toured after the Second World War.
 

In an anniversary programme from 1951, several photographs from the company’s repertoire are reproduced (without captions). Here are two of those images, one which seems almost certainly to be The Sleeping Princess (there is a fairytale castle in the distance) and one which might be. I’d be keen for any tips as to where other such stage shots can be found. 
 

(Spread across two posts because of upload limits)
 

 

[Sebastian]

[Jane S]

Sebastian, I think the first one is  more likely to be Act 1 of Swan Lake - it makes me think instantly of the old RB production.

[Jane S]

C.W,Beaumont, in Ballet magazine, describes the look of International Ballet's Swan Lake Prologue (Act 1 in many productions):

 

"... a rather pallid landscape with a castle more fairy tale than real in the background; the wings consist of stone arches..... The Prince's companions wear caps and doublets of brght blue, their chests are adorned with a looped and massive gold chain.... The peasant girls ... with white linen headdresses."

 

Sounds like your photo.

 

I have no idea what the other picture is but I'd say definitely not Sleeping Beauty!

 

[Sebastian]

27 minutes ago, Jane S said:

I have no idea what the other picture is but I'd say definitely not Sleeping Beauty!

Thank you Jane S: the hunt for some photos continues! 

[Diandri]

Hi Sebastian

Have you searched the ROH collections as I've just had a quick look & there seems to be some Frank Sharman collections of what is definitely Sleeping Beauty (or Sleeping Princess as it was then called in their Sergeyev production) & your above photos seem to be Swan Lake. Googling the Gaumont Kilburn on the Images setting brought up some posters & press cuttings from 1948-ish with dancer names as well. Ismene Brown's interview on the Artsdesk.com website  still has some active links to this wonderful lady & her company.

[Diandri]

Also try Museum of Music History website - there's 2 rehearsal photos of their Verona arena shows; it's hard to tell from the distance, but it looks more Beauty than Swan Lake. It comes up under previous exhibitions in Nov 2018 & part 2 in 2019 & click on all images.

 

Also search Shutterstock website, there's a post show photo of Beauty with a definite Puss-in-Boots character. 

[Sebastian]

26 minutes ago, Diandri said:

Hi Sebastian

Have you searched the ROH collections as I've just had a quick look & there seems to be some Frank Sharman collections of what is definitely Sleeping Beauty (or Sleeping Princess as it was then called in their Sergeyev production) & your above photos seem to be Swan Lake. Googling the Gaumont Kilburn on the Images setting brought up some posters & press cuttings from 1948-ish with dancer names as well. Ismene Brown's interview on the Artsdesk.com website  still has some active links to this wonderful lady & her company.

Thank you very much Diandri. I am not sure I completely understand: the Sharman pictures held by the ROH all seem to be (unsurprisingly) of the Sadlers Wells / ROH productions, rather than of International Ballet. Have I misunderstood what you mean? 
 

And yes, there is now thankfully quite a lot of information available on Mona Ingelsby and International Ballet but I am searching specifically for photos of their Sleeping Princess production, along the lines of the stage shots I (perhaps wrong-headedly) included in my posts.

[LinMM]

Sebastian I may message you as my old ballet teacher Roger Tully danced with the Mona Inglesby International Ballet Company…..in fact the male dancer in front on the right side doesn’t look unlike him but can’t be sure!!   He has died now unfortunately but there are some people closely connected with him( including his daughter) who may have more information but will put out a message on the Whats App group first. 

 

[Jane S]

I just found a copy of something called the second International Ballet Brochure which has lots of photos including the first one you posted, whch is definitely capitioned as Swan Lake (prologue); also another which makes me think your second photo is  Coppelia Act 3.

 

Unfortunately the brochure is dated 1941 - 1947 which I think is too early for their complete Sleeping Beauty though there is one photo from what sounds like Act 1 which maybe they did on its own?

[James]

Sebastian

 

Stills from the International Ballet production are here:-

 

https://www.rohcollections.org.uk/record.aspx?searchtype=collection&ref=110002584&page=17&img=110002584_8302&collection=Frank Sharman Photographic Collection&row=2&tit=

 

James

[Sebastian]

9 hours ago, James said:

Stills from the International Ballet production are here:-

 

https://www.rohcollections.org.uk/record.aspx?searchtype=collection&ref=110002584&page=17&img=110002584_8302&collection=Frank Sharman Photographic Collection&row=2&tit=

 

Many thanks James (and apologies for misunderstanding what you meant Diandri). 

[Emeralds]

20 hours ago, Jane S said:

C.W,Beaumont, in Ballet magazine, describes the look of International Ballet's Swan Lake Prologue (Act 1 in many productions):

 

"... a rather pallid landscape with a castle more fairy tale than real in the background; the wings consist of stone arches..... The Prince's companions wear caps and doublets of brght blue, their chests are adorned with a looped and massive gold chain.... The peasant girls ... with white linen headdresses."

 

Sounds like your photo.

 

I have no idea what the other picture is but I'd say definitely not Sleeping Beauty!

 

The poses that the corps de ballet are captured in look very much like the choreography for the last group dance of Swan Lake Act 1 (the one with the goblets, according to Tchaikovsky’s score notes, or lanterns etc depending on the production), I agree.

13 hours ago, James said:

Sebastian

 

Stills from the International Ballet production are here:-

 

https://www.rohcollections.org.uk/record.aspx?searchtype=collection&ref=110002584&page=17&img=110002584_8302&collection=Frank Sharman Photographic Collection&row=2&tit=

 

James

Great find, James! Brilliant photos. Wow, Kilburn! - my friends who used to live in Kilburn would be amazed to hear that a well known ballet company once performed Sleeping Beauty there (before they were born though).

Edited October 31, 2022 by Emeralds

[Sebastian]

3 hours ago, Emeralds said:

Wow, Kilburn! - my friends who used to live in Kilburn would be amazed to hear that a well known ballet company once performed Sleeping Beauty there (before they were born though).

 

In case they are interested Emeralds, here is a review of that show from The Stage in 1948:

 

 

[Peanut68]

Gosh, how snacking to see such a sumptuous looking production with large company of dancers clearly touring beyond just the regular ballet theatres….& that Kilburn has such a theatre!! I seem to recall driving along Kilburn High Road in days before M25 meant driving through Central London & recall seeing what looked like an old former theatre or cinema in various states from Bingo hall to full dilapidation…. 
I wonder if I saw where ballet once graced???

I see there seem to be more touring companies visiting ‘the provinces’ at the moment…. Would love to read reviews from any who have recently been in audience!