John Cranko resident choreographer for Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet's 1950–51 season. For the company's Festival of Britain season in 1951 Cranko choreographed the comic ballet "Pineapple Poll", to the music of Arthur Sullivan (newly out of copyright) arranged by the conductor Charles Mackerras. Another collaboration with Mackerras followed in 1954 with "The Lady and the Fool", to music by Verdi. In January 1954 Sadler's Wells Ballet announced that Cranko was collaborating with Benjamin Britten to create a ballet. Cranko devised a draft scenario for a work he originally called "The Green Serpent", fusing elements drawn from "King Lear", "Beauty and the Beast"
The Talisman (ballet) known today as "The Talisman Pas de Deux", which in recent times has been included in the repertory of many ballet companies around the world. "The Talsiman Pas de Deux" includes music from another composer as well – the male variation was taken by Gusev from Cesare Pugni's score for Petipa's "The Pharaoh's Daughter", which is still included in the "Pas de Deux" today. Prologue — In the clouds The gods and spirits descend to meet the Goddess Amravati, Queen of the heavens ("Valse des esprits"). She is in despair, and is asked why. She replies ""It is today, in