Kenneth MacMillan at the Royal Ballet

Kenneth MacMillan's Massenet-inspired Manon returns to the Royal Opera House this month, performed by the Royal Ballet. Among others, Tamara Rojo will play Manon and Carlos Acosta will play Des Grieux Photograph: Bill Cooper/PR

Kenneth MacMillan was born in Dunfermline in 1929. Finding favour with the Royal Ballet's founder, Ninette de Valois, he rapidly rose to prominence as a choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet from 1970 until 1977, but continued to choreograph works for them until his death backstage at the Royal Opera House in 1992. MacMillan is noted for his interest in doomed characters struggling with a dark sexuality Photograph: David Sillitoe/Guardian

In 1965, MacMillan's first full-length ballet, a new version of Romeo and Juliet danced to the music of Prokofiev, proved a hit and revitalised the story. The production also helped to revive the career of Margot Fonteyn, who was the first ballerina to dance MacMillan's Juliet in public. Here, Lauren Cuthbertson as Juliet dances with Edward Watson as Romeo in 2006 Photograph: Dee Conway/PR

MacMillan choreographed Anastasia, which tells the story of a deranged woman who believes herself to be the grand duchess. It is set to music by Tchaikovsky and Martinu. The full-length version was first performed in 1971, and was not a critical success. Pictured here in a 2004 revival, Leanne Benjamin dances the lead Photograph: Tristram Kenton/Guardian

1974's Manon has proved a repeated hit for the Royal Ballet. The tragic tale of a peasant girl who dreams of being a great lady, it centres on the struggle within Manon between her love for the loyal Des Grieux and temptation in the form of various rich men. Darcey Bussell, shown here in the role in 2003, also owed her first principal role to MacMillan. Aged 19, she was chosen by MacMillan to star in his last full-length ballet, Prince of the Pagodas Photograph: Tristram Kenton/Guardian

Mayerling is another often-revived MacMillan work. Sexual intrigue in the Austrian imperial court reaches fever pitch, as the crown prince Rudolf enters into a suicide pact with one of his lovers. In this 2002 production, Judith Mackrell praised Mara Galeazzi's 'willingness to sully the technical veneer of her dancing with ugly cracks of emotion'. Partner Johan Kobborg is now tipped to take over the artistic directorship of the Royal Ballet when current director Monica Mason retires in 2012 Photograph: Bill Cooper/Guardian

In 2004, Judith Mackrell was stunned by Jonathan Cope's 'blank, skittering gaze and subtle phrasing' coupled with Tamara Rojo (as the vampish Mary Vetsera), whose 'ruthless and extravagantly yielding little body goads' Rudolf to an early death in Mayerling Photograph: Tristram Kenton/Guardian

With a score by Benjamin Britten, Prince of the Pagodas is a rather psychoanalytical fairy tale, with the heroine princess Rose travelling through her subconscious, dealing with various suitors along the way. The New York Times considered the US premiere in 1991 to be 'perhaps too contemporary for its own good' Photograph: PR

Manon, which also stars Leanne Benjamin, is at the Royal Opera House until November 27 2008 Photograph: Bill Cooper/PR