1961 – Walter Gore’s London Ballet launched

Walter Gore’s London Ballet gave its first performance in Hintlesham Hall, Ipswich, on the 28 July 1961 with an evening of Gore’s choreography. The musical director and co-founder was Michael Pilkington, and dancers included Gore, Paula Hinton, Anna Price, Jane Evans, Roger Tully and Harry Haythorne, as well as Alexis Rassine. The company appeared at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1961 and toured extensively in a repertoire of Gore’s works including his own version of The Nutcracker. The company closed in 1963.