John could hardly have found a better influence. 
John Piper had seen the Diaghilev Ballet in his twenties, had gone as often as possible because `the excitement &dash. the tinge of exultation &dash. in the dancing married to modern music and modern art, worked in my blood and bones." 
From that experience, he <tag "515647">derived</> an ideal of stage unity stemming from a close collaboration `regardless as far as possible of individual prestige and personality", which was reinforced by working in the Group Theatre of the thirties with Auden, Isherwood, Spender, Britten and others.  

