1931 – Premiere of Ninette de Valois’ Job by the Camargo Society

Job is a masque for dancing in eight scenes, choreographed and produced by Ninette de Valois. It was first presented by the Camargo Society at the Cambridge Theatre, London in July 1931 and then later that year at The Old Vic. The work is based on the Illustrations to the Book of Job that William Blake published in 1825. The ballet’s libretto, by Geoffrey Keynes, is based on Blake’s 21 engravings, as is its music by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The scenery and costumes were by Gwendolen Raverat, but were redesigned by the artist John Piper in 1948.

Although the ballet is seldom performed now, the solo for Satan that Anton Dolin created is sometimes revived for special occasions. The whole masque marked a milestone in its time, not least because the collaboration of dance, music and design was an entirely British affair. In addition, the representation of the biblical narrative in its groupings and tableaux was strikingly faithful to Blake’s images.

The original cast also included Stanley Judson.