A Forgotten Ballet Reimagined: Renishaw Hall to celebrate 100 years of The Triumph of Neptune with Pollock's Toy Museum

In its 70th anniversary year, Pollock's Toy Museum has partnered with Derbyshire's Renishaw Hall to celebrate the centenary of a remarkable but long-forgotten Serge Diaghilev ballet, which features a scenario by Sacheverell Sitwell.

The historic home of the Sitwell family, visitors to Renishaw Hall will be able to discover the story of The Triumph of Neptune, which premiered in London in 1926 and was met with instant acclaim. The origins of The Triumph of Neptune are as charming as they are unusual. Earlier that year, renowned impresario Diaghilev, whose groundbreaking Ballets Russes had already transformed European dance, asked Sitwell to devise a distinctly English ballet. Seeking inspiration, the pair ventured into Hoxton (in London), where they visited the shop of Benjamin Pollock, famed for its traditional hand-coloured toy theatre prints.

Diaghilev was captivated by the vivid characters and whimsical scenes depicted in these miniature stages. Together with Sitwell, he purchased armfuls of prints, which became the foundation for the fantastical narrative set to music by Lord Berners.

Opening on Wednesday 22nd April and included with entry to Renishaw Hall's beautiful Italianate gardens, The Triumph of Neptune: Diaghilev, Lord Berners and Sacheverell Sitwell reveals how these Pollock prints evolved into the ballet's elaborate and highly imaginative staging. The exhibition features specially made and original toy theatres, along with archive photography of the 1926 production, music by Gerald Berners and two spectacular Diaghilev costumes that evoke the colour, creativity and extraordinary ambition of The Triumph of Neptune. Letters from the Renishaw Hall archive, never previously exhibited, add further atmosphere and detail to the enchanting story of this mesmerising ballet.

The exhibition runs Wednesday to Sunday from 22 April until Christmas 2026 at Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire (S21 3WB). Whether drawn by ballet history, theatrical design, or the nostalgia of toy theatres, visitors will find a rich and enchanting experience that bridges past and present. Even the smallest stages can inspire the grandest visions.

Book now via the Renishaw Hall website.