Model pieces for the model for Act I scene 1 and Act II of the ballet "The Sailor's Return", choreographed and designed by Andrée Howard, premiered by Ballet Rambert at Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1947.

Given by Maude Gosling

NB: The term "negro" was used historically to describe people of black African heritage but, since the 1960s, has fallen from usage and, increasingly, is considered offensive. The term is repeated here in its original historical context.

The model is for Act I scene 1 and Act II of the ballet "The Sailor's Return", choreographed and designed by Andrée Howard to a score by Arthur Oldham and premiered by Ballet Rambert at Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1947.
Howard devised the scenario from the novel of the same name by David Garnett, producing a ballet in six scenes. The ballet traces the events set in train when the sailor, William Targett, returns to his home village with Tulip, a negro girl he has married in a native ceremony; the prejudice they encounter leads to his death and Tulip sends their child away to be brought up in Africa.
The design came to the Museum as part of a gift from Maude Lloyd, who was a close friend and colleague of Andrée Howard.

Historical significance: "The Sailor's Return" was an example of dance drama, rather than pure ballet, and the second time that Howard had turned to David Garnett's novels as a source, the first being for one of her finest works, "Lady into Fox". The role of Tulip provided Sally Gilmour with one of her finest roles.
Howard was one of a very few choreographers who also designed their own ballets.

S.646:1-2001