Here are a couple of memories that have been sent into us by Friends of Scottish Ballet:


"Scottish Ballet’s Scarlet Pastorale by Peter Darrell, starring Margot Fonteyn, is imprinted on my mind. The set was stunning and startling in silver, black, white, and scarlet. The choreography was inspired. Dame Margot, towards the end of an illustrious career, was superb and fluent in every movement. Even the programme, which I still have, was a delight and so different from the usual wee booklet. But of particular interest to me was the look on my mother’s face as she watched the ballet unfold. She had danced as a child and teenager, but joint problems put an end to all that very early on. She and Dame Margot were the same age. She loved to see her fellow 60 year old in such great form- and it was her first and only visit to the ballet. A superb experience. So, Scottish Ballet, how about a Darrell retrospective?"

-Alan Rodger



"Since attending ballet classes as a child, I have always loved seeing classical productions, whilst totally ignoring the contemporary aspect. A few years ago I asked a friend, who also hadn’t been to a contemporary production, if she would like to be brave enough to join me at the next opportunity of a Scottish Ballet performance. We were apprehensive about it, but felt we could leave at the interval if it was unbearable. Needless to say we were thrilled to see such beauty and energy of movement. We were hooked from the start. The only regret is that we have missed many wonderful performances over the years, but try to get to as much classical and contemporary as often as we can now. It’s never too late to try something new!"

- Evelyn Clark

"Cheating, Lying, Stealing is definitely my favourite performance so far.  I love the way Ashley Page produced it. I liked the way the background picture was designed; the hidden musicians that later appeared from downstage; the burning chair with dramatic flames; the moving towers and the tilted square! The dancers were phenomenal! I imagined the dancers were all the little bits of the car making it work!
I love 261 - it always feels like home! I am completely inspired about everything that I have experienced here. To be part of Scottish Ballet as a Junior Associate is amazing.  The teaching is very professional and fun. My message to young people out there is try to get in at Scottish Ballet and GET CREATIVE WITH TRAMWAY!”

-Amarillia Moffat

More memories...

"I first joined as a friend when I became a student at Glasgow University in the late 70s. Soon after, I received a letter from someone in marketing inviting me to have a tour of 261. I was asked to distribute flyers around the university and halls of residence for the next Scottish Ballet event. Over the next couple of years I did this several times and always enjoyed the event myself (free tickets in payment—what joy for a student!). One event was BIG: Ballet in Glasgow, I visited the Theatre Royal, and loved watching Elaine McDonald as Lady MacBeth, Vincent Hantam as Mercutio, and a variety of humorous pieces.  261 was so wonderful and so new at this time.

I also remember ‘Dance Aid’ which must have been in the mid 80s. I remember the male dancers having to lift every one of the female dancers as a challenge, and Paul Tyers' wee boy called out “that’s my daddy,” which had us all laughing.

Over the next few years I attended many events and particularly enjoyed the ‘Day in the life of a dancer’ events, which was a mini-class followed by a rehearsal, and finally a performance in the studio theatre at 261. Although I moved away from Glasgow, I have always attended performances and have been able to pass on my love of ballet to the next generation. Now I bring my own sons and niece, plus friends to ballet, and indeed, the Saturday matinee at Christmas is a family tradition. It’s even better if we’ve managed to get to the appreciation event beforehand."

-          Morna MacDonald

'I was a member of Motiv8 - Scottish Ballet's Youth Dance Company back in 2002. Wow, can't believe it was so long ago! Met some wonderful people and had a blast!' - Maggie McFadyen, via Facebook

'First ballet I ever went to see was Scottish National Ballet in Nutcracker in the 80s. Land of snow was magical.' - V Aris, via Twitter

My happiest memories of 261 are of the occasions when I was allowed to watch some sessions of the Junior Associates programme on Saturday mornings when my student, Christopher Harrison, was one of the clan members.  The classes were all magic, seeing the young dancers taught by such excellent teachers.  Also I remember the occasions on which Friends could see Penny Withers working with the young dancers or attend the rehearsals taken by Ashley Page.  Looking forward to the next phase.

 -Kay Morrison

I have been a friend of Scottish Ballet since its inception in 1969.  Over the 40 years there are three ballets that stand out in my mind.  These are The Tales of Hoffman, Nutcracker, and Cinderella.  In The Tales of Hoffman, the dancing costumes and Offenbach’s music combined to create a wonderful performance.  In the 1970’s Nutcracker, the audience broke into spontaneous applause when the curtain went up on the magnificent scenery of the ‘land of the sweets.’  All the coloured balls were magic.  Finally Cinderella (1991), the costumes especially the Cinderella cloak as she raised her wings, likening to a butterfly, when she saw her prince, the music of Rossini combined with these gorgeous costumes were truly tear jerkingly beautiful, and the dancing wonderful.

-          Mrs. Gillian Drysdale-Wilson

I worked for BBC in Belfast and had the job of working on a televised production of Peter Darrell’s Nutcracker.  I knew all the dancers and found Peter inspirational and full of enthusiasm.  I went on to direct a further film featuring Scottish Ballet in ‘East meets West.’  When Natalia Makarova, who had come from Kirov, was a Scottish Ballet dancer, I told her story of coming to Scotland and her debut in Swan Lake.  Galina Samsova was the artistic director at this time and I loved visiting 261- a magical place as far as I was concerned.   

 -Eleanor Taylor

We would climb the beautiful marble stairs in the Opera House in Elmbank St behind the Kings Theatre and imagine we were in Russia about to take class with Petipa or dance for the Tsar.   Sometimes we got to watch company class and I remember once peaking through the studio door for a glimpse of Margot Fontyn  and being disapointed she was sitting on a seat in her outdoor clothes.

I have fond memories of being allowed to take class with the company sometimes and being so overwhelmed I fell over doing pose pirrouttes and Vincent Hantam helped me up. I am sure he will not remember but I was so embarressed but grateful he was so kind.

The inspiration I got from these classes and the encouragement from teachers was invaluable.  Gordon Aitken and Peter Darrell never too busy to notice an awestruck teenager and comment on progresss.

And yes in case you are wondering I did go on and dance and am still involved in dance and always will be.

It was my destiny.

At the age of 10 or 11 my dance teacher put me forward to audition for the Nutcracker. I was selected to be a party girl (in the opening scenes) and a bon bon. the rehearsals were amazing, I felt like a proper dancer! my dedicated mum driving me to glasgow daily for rehearsals and performances at the Theatre Royal. She must have been so proud, as she also danced with the scottish ballet before injuring her back in her 20's. I had always wanted to be the sugar plum fairy...just like mum! at least this was a step in the right direction!

A year later I received a call to perform in Anna Karenina. We got to perform in Glasgow and Edinburgh with this production.

I really couldn't believe my luck when I was called back again to perform in Peter Pan...playing Wendy's daughter Jane in the very final scenes. I got to fly with Peter Pan!

I'm excited to see the Nutcracker returning. The music brings it all back and tears are guaranteed! Shame children don't dance in the productions anymore though...it really was a dream come true with the costumes, entering through the stage door, curtain calls, meeting some wonderful friends and the dancers...who were all so lovely, signing autographs for a starstruck youngster and giving me their pointe shoes. Happy days!