Roald Dahl is one of the best-selling children's authors in the world. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages, and many have been made into hugely succesful movies. Dahl's output was immense - over twenty books for children as well as many short stories for adults. And when he died in 1990 at the age of seventy-four, he was still at the height of his powers.

The Foundation was created in 1991 by the author's widow, Felicity, with the express intention of helping individuals in need. It is focussed on specific medical conditions affecting children and young people up to the age of 25 - and currently has two areas of concern: haematology, neurology. Funds are offered where they will have an immediate and tangible effect - for example through the provision of specialist nursing staff, hardship funds, and the support of existing charities. Since its creation the Foundation has given over £6 million in grants.

In 1992, the world premiere of Little Red Riding Hood by Paul Patterson in the Royal Festival Hall, London, launched an ambitious series of commissions of new music for children AND adults, based on Roald Dahl's rhymes and stories, royalties from which directly benefit the Roald Dahl Foundation. Little Red Riding Hood has played to packed houses all over the world. It was released as a CD by EMI in a performance starring Julie Walters, Ian Holm and Danny DeVito.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs was premiered in London in 1994. It was performed by the London Philharmonic in a semi-staged version conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, and a cast including Griff Rhys Jones and Geraldine James. The music, by the remarkable Jamaican composer, Eleanor Alberga, is full of drama and magic. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs also features some extraordinary dance music. These dances are currently being arranged by Eleanor Alberga into a 15 minute concert suite.

The Minpins is an adaptation of Roald Dahls last story, which was published after his death. The story is narrated over a score taken from the orchestral music of Sibelius. The Minpins received a rapturous reception at its English and Russian language premieres in St. Petersburg in 1996.

Jack and the Beanstalk by Georgs Pelecis was premiered in Londons Royal Albert Hall in December 1996, to a packed and excited audience of 6,000 people. It was presented by the Royal Philharmonic and Peter Ash, with an all-star cast including Danny DeVito, Joanna Lumley and Simon Callow. The piece was broadcast nationally on Classic FM. Since its premiere in Glasgow in 1997, Goldilocks and the Three Bears has proved itself to be a very flexible and witty work of music theatre. It is set in a courtroom in the forest, with two animal lawyers, an animal judge and jury, and of course a family of bears who turn the tables on the would-be litigant, Miss Goldie Locks.