1955 London’s Festival Ballet Programme Provincial Tour Souvenir

This original London’s Festival Ballet Souvenir Programme from the Provincial Tour, Autumn 1955 is a beautifully designed piece of mid‑century performing arts history. The cover features an elegant illustration by Terry Yate, capturing the grace and movement of the company during one of its most dynamic periods.

Inside, the programme includes cast lists, production notes, repertoire details and period advertising — offering a vivid snapshot of British ballet culture in the 1950s, before the company evolved into the internationally recognised English National Ballet. Priced originally at 1/-, this was a high‑quality souvenir intended to be kept, yet relatively few survive in good condition today.
A wonderful collectable for ballet enthusiasts, theatre historians, and lovers of vintage performing arts ephemera.

Festival Ballet in the 1950s — Touring Britain’s Stages

Founded in 1950, London’s Festival Ballet quickly became one of the UK’s most important touring companies. The 1955 provincial tour brought world‑class ballet to audiences across the country, helping to popularise the art form far beyond London’s major theatres.

Programmes from this era are prized for their stylish artwork, detailed production notes and their connection to a formative period in British ballet. Terry Yate’s illustrated covers are especially sought after, reflecting the elegance and theatricality of the company’s repertoire.
This 1955 edition is a charming survivor from a golden age of British touring ballet.