Peter Darrell
Encyclopedia
Peter Darrell CBE, a ballet
choreographer, dancer and founder of the Scottish Ballet
, was born Peter Skinner at Richmond, Surrey, on 16 September 1929 and died in Glasgow on 2 December 1987. For almost four decades he had been one of the most productive and imaginative talents in British ballet. He studied at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, joined the opera ballet there and then took part in the inaugural performance of The Sadler's Wells Ballet Company — what is now Birmingham Royal Ballet
.
He then worked in musicals and at the Malmö Opera House
, Sweden, until the founding of "Ballet Workshop
" at the Mercury Theatre
, London, brought the chance for would-be choreographers to try their talents. Darrell proved to be their best discovery and from 1951 to 1955 made a series of skilled and original works there. This experience led, in 1952, to his first professional commission when Anton Dolin
invited him to create a new version of Harlequinade
for Festival Ballet
.
From the first, Darrell had two guiding aims: to use classical ballet to entertain the widest possible public, and to introduce contemporary themes and the influence of other theatrical skills. This led in 1956 to a collaboration with the like-minded Elizabeth West, who was teaching at the Old Vic School
in Bristol. Together they founded the company which was then called Western Theatre Ballet. After her untimely death in 1962, Darrell remained in sole charge.
That company soon won a high reputation for the drama, humour and individuality of its productions, starting with The Prisoners (1957), which has been revived frequently. Also notable among Darrell's very large creative output for that company were his modern-dress interpretations of Debussy's Jeux
and the first ballet to be based on Beatles music, Mods and Rockers.
In 1969 the company accepted an invitation to move its base to Glasgow, where it became Scottish Theatre Ballet, and later, in recognition of a widening repertoire and purpose, Scottish Ballet
, with its new home theatre being the Theatre Royal, Glasgow
from 1975. Darrell's choreography remained its foundation stone, in productions across Britain and in overseas tours as far as Japan. The Tales of Hoffmann (1972) and Cinderella
(1979) are probably the best examples of his long narrative works, which also include Mary Queen of Scots, a radical new treatment of Swan Lake
and an intelligent and stylish production of Giselle
.
He made numerous shorter works for Scottish Ballet and other companies, including the lyrical Five Rückert Songs
(1978). Several of his ballets were staged abroad by companies in Australia, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Hong Kong and the USA. He was awarded the CBE
in 1984.
Clement Crisp, 'Financial Times' - December 1987.
"Of all the leading British choreographers, Darrell is most like Ashton in being sensitive to the spirit of the time; not just following fashion, but feeling the way people move, think and behave, and reflecting it in his work"
John Percival, 'The Times' - November 1969.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
choreographer, dancer and founder of the Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
, was born Peter Skinner at Richmond, Surrey, on 16 September 1929 and died in Glasgow on 2 December 1987. For almost four decades he had been one of the most productive and imaginative talents in British ballet. He studied at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, joined the opera ballet there and then took part in the inaugural performance of The Sadler's Wells Ballet Company — what is now Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet....
.
He then worked in musicals and at the Malmö Opera House
Malmö Opera and Music Theatre
Malmö Opera and Music Theatre is an opera house in Malmö, Sweden. An opera company of the same name presents seasons of opera in this house....
, Sweden, until the founding of "Ballet Workshop
Rambert Dance Company
Rambert Dance Company, is a leading British dance company. Formed at the start of the 20th century as a classical ballet company, it would exert a great deal of influence on the development of dance in the United Kingdom, and today, as a contemporary dance company, it continues to be one of the...
" at the Mercury Theatre
Mercury Theatre, Notting Hill Gate
The Mercury Theatre was a small theatre in Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London, notable for the productions of poetic dramas between 1933 and 1956, and as the home of the Ballet Rambert until 1987.- History :...
, London, brought the chance for would-be choreographers to try their talents. Darrell proved to be their best discovery and from 1951 to 1955 made a series of skilled and original works there. This experience led, in 1952, to his first professional commission when Anton Dolin
Anton Dolin
Sir Anton Dolin was an English ballet dancer and choreographer.Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey-Kay but was generally known as Patrick Kay. He joined Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1921, was a principal there from 1924, and was a principal...
invited him to create a new version of Harlequinade
Les Millions d'Arlequin
Les millions d'Arlequin is a ballet in two acts with libretto and choreography by Marius Petipa and music by Riccardo Drigo. First presented at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage by the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday,...
for Festival Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin and based at Markova House in South Kensington, London, England. Along with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet, it is one of the four major ballet companies in Great...
.
From the first, Darrell had two guiding aims: to use classical ballet to entertain the widest possible public, and to introduce contemporary themes and the influence of other theatrical skills. This led in 1956 to a collaboration with the like-minded Elizabeth West, who was teaching at the Old Vic School
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
in Bristol. Together they founded the company which was then called Western Theatre Ballet. After her untimely death in 1962, Darrell remained in sole charge.
That company soon won a high reputation for the drama, humour and individuality of its productions, starting with The Prisoners (1957), which has been revived frequently. Also notable among Darrell's very large creative output for that company were his modern-dress interpretations of Debussy's Jeux
Jeux
Jeux is the last work for orchestra written by Claude Debussy. Described as a "poème dansé" , it was originally intended to accompany a ballet, and was written for the Ballets Russes of Serge Diaghilev to choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky. Debussy initially objected to the scenario, but...
and the first ballet to be based on Beatles music, Mods and Rockers.
In 1969 the company accepted an invitation to move its base to Glasgow, where it became Scottish Theatre Ballet, and later, in recognition of a widening repertoire and purpose, Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
, with its new home theatre being the Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
The Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in Glasgow, located at 282 Hope Street in Cowcaddens. The theatre originally opened in 1867, changing its name to the Theatre Royal in 1869, and is the longest running theatre in Scotland...
from 1975. Darrell's choreography remained its foundation stone, in productions across Britain and in overseas tours as far as Japan. The Tales of Hoffmann (1972) and Cinderella
Cinderella (Prokofiev)
Cinderella is a ballet, Op. 87, composed by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. It is one of his most popular and melodious compositions, and has inspired a great many choreographers since its inception. The piece was composed between 1940 and 1944. Part way through writing it he...
(1979) are probably the best examples of his long narrative works, which also include Mary Queen of Scots, a radical new treatment of Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
and an intelligent and stylish production of Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
.
He made numerous shorter works for Scottish Ballet and other companies, including the lyrical Five Rückert Songs
Rückert-Lieder
Rückert-Lieder is a song cycle of five Lieder for voice and orchestra or piano by Gustav Mahler, based on poems written by Friedrich Rückert...
(1978). Several of his ballets were staged abroad by companies in Australia, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Hong Kong and the USA. He was awarded the CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1984.
Press Cuttings
"Peter Darrell was a man of theatre above all else, and his ballets and his artistic judgements never ignored the fact that dancing is not a remote and introspective activity, but an art of the theatre. He was a man of wonderful humour, strong enthusiasms: his memorial is not only his company and his choreography, but the marked influence he had upon the way we think of ballet today"Clement Crisp, 'Financial Times' - December 1987.
"Of all the leading British choreographers, Darrell is most like Ashton in being sensitive to the spirit of the time; not just following fashion, but feeling the way people move, think and behave, and reflecting it in his work"
John Percival, 'The Times' - November 1969.