Terence James Stannus Gray (14 September 1895 – 5 January 1986), was a theatre producer who created the Cambridge Festival Theatre as an experimental theatre in Cambridge. He produced over 100 plays there between 1926 and 1933.[1] Later in life, under the pen name Wei Wu Wei, he published several books on Taoist philosophy.
Terence Gray
Born
(1895-09-14)14 September 1895 Felixstowe, Suffolk, England, UK
In the later part of his life he lived with his second wife, the Georgian princess Natalie Margaret Imeretinsky, in Monaco. He had previously been married to a Russian noblewoman, Rimsky-Korsakov.[2]
Gray maintained his family's racehorses in England and Ireland and in 1957 his horse Zarathustra won the Ascot Gold Cup, ridden by jockey Lester Piggott in the first of his eleven wins of that race.
Cambridge Festival TheatreEdit
In the 1920s and 1930s, Gray worked as a theorist, theatrical producer, creator of radical "dance-dramas", publisher of several related magazines and author of two related books. His cousin was Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet.[1]
In 1926, Gray, with no previous practical theatrical experience, opened the Cambridge Festival Theatre as an experimental playhouse.[1] He acquired the old Theatre Royal in the Cambridge suburb of Barnwell, and substantially rebuilt it.[1] The opening production was Aeschylus' The Orestia, with de Valois as choreographer, and he continued to produce non-naturalistic productions, emphasising movement over speech.[1]Doria Paston worked as an actress and set designer with Gray for seven years.[3] Critics were divided, with some praising his achievements, and others saying he sacrificed text and acting to clever trickery. Gray delighted in upsetting audiences but, despite controversy, audiences filled the theatre.[1]
Many of Gray's collaborators left the project over his inability to compromise.[1] By 1933, he had abandoned theatre for good.[4]
TaoismEdit
After he left his theatrical career, his thoughts turned towards philosophy and metaphysics. This led to a period of travel throughout Asia, including time spent at Ramana Maharshi's ashram in Tiruvannamalai, India.[citation needed] Between the years 1958 and 1974, eight books and articles in various periodicals appeared under the pseudonym "Wei Wu Wei" (Wu wei, a Taoist term which translates as "action that is non-action").[5] His identity as the author was not revealed at the time of publication for reasons he outlined in the Preface to the first book, Fingers Pointing Towards the Moon (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1958).
The next 16 years saw the appearance of seven subsequent books, including his final work under the further pseudonym "O.O.O." in 1974. Wei Wu Wei influenced among others, the British mathematician and author G. Spencer-Brown, Galen Sharp, and Ramesh Balsekar.[citation needed] Wei Wu Wei is discussed in some detail in the book Taoism for Dummies (John Wiley and Sons Canada, 2013). A biography was published in 2004.[5]
WorksEdit
Fingers Pointing Towards The Moon; Reflections of a Pilgrim on the Way, 1958, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul (out of print); 2003, Boulder: Sentient Publications. Foreword by Ramesh Balsekar. ISBN1-59181-010-8
Why Lazarus Laughed; The Essential Doctrine Zen-Advaita-Tantra, 1960, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. (out of print); 2003, Boulder: Sentient Publications. ISBN1-59181-011-6
Ask The Awakened; The Negative Way, 1963, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd. (2nd ed. 1974)(out of print); 1973, Boston: Little, Brown & Co. ISBN0-316-92810-0 (out of print); 2002, Boulder: Sentient Publications. Foreword by Galen Sharp. ISBN0-9710786-4-5
All Else Is Bondage; Non-Volitional Living, 1964, Hong Kong University Press (reprinted 1970, 1982). ISBN962-209-025-7 (out of print); 1999, Sunstar Publications. ISBN1-886656-34-7 (out of print); 2004, Boulder: Sentient Publications. 1-59181-023-X
Open Secret, 1965, Hong Kong University Press (reprinted 1970, 1982). ISBN962-209-030-3 (out of print); 2004, Boulder: Sentient Publications. ISBN1-59181-014-0
The Tenth Man, 1966, Hong Kong University Press (reprinted 1967, 1971). ISBN0-85656-013-8 (out of print); 2003, Boulder: Sentient Publications. Foreword by Dr. Gregory Tucker. ISBN1-59181-007-8
Posthumous Pieces, 1968, Hong Kong University Press. Foreword by Wayne Liquorman. ISBN0-85656-027-8 (out of print); 2004, Boulder: Sentient Publications. ISBN1-59181-015-9
Unworldly Wise; As the Owl Remarked to the Rabbit, 1974, Hong Kong University Press. ISBN0-85656-103-7 (out of print) (Note: this book published under the further pseudonym 'O.O.O.'); 2004, Boulder: Sentient Publications. ISBN1-59181-019-1
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefg Harbin, B (1969). "Terence Gray and the Cambridge Festival Theatre". Educational Theatre Journal. 21 (4): 1926–1933. doi:10.2307/3205568. JSTOR 3205568.
^Cosgrove, Olivia; Cox, Laurence; Kuhling, Carmen, eds. (2010). Ireland's New Religious Movements. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 62. ISBN978-1443826150.
^"Digitally Archiving Photographs, Films, Maps & Documents". Kingsbury Time Travellers. Kingsbury Time Travellers. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
^ Nicholson, Steve (2016). "'Nobody Was Ready for That: The Gross Impertinence of Terence Gray and the Degradation of Drama". Theatre Research International. 21 (2): 121–131. doi:10.1017/S030788330001470X.
^ abCornwell, Paul (2004). Only by Failure: The Many Faces of the Impossible Life of Terence Gray. Salt Publishing. ISBN1844710041.
External linksEdit
Wikiquote has quotations related to Wei Wu Wei.
The 'Wei Wu Wei' Archives
"The Spirit Works : Wei Wu Wei Biography" by Gregory Tucker
Wei Wu Wei Book Excerpts
Articles in French
October 14, 2023
taoist, tenet, other, people, named, terry, gray, terry, gray, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find. For the Taoist tenet see Wu wei For other people named Terry Gray see Terry Gray disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wei Wu Wei news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Terence James Stannus Gray 14 September 1895 5 January 1986 was a theatre producer who created the Cambridge Festival Theatre as an experimental theatre in Cambridge He produced over 100 plays there between 1926 and 1933 1 Later in life under the pen name Wei Wu Wei he published several books on Taoist philosophy Terence GrayBorn 1895 09 14 14 September 1895Felixstowe Suffolk England UKDied5 January 1986 1986 01 05 aged 90 MonacoPen nameWei Wu WeiOccupationWriterNationalityBritishGenrenon fictionNotable workOpen Secret Contents 1 Background 2 Cambridge Festival Theatre 3 Taoism 4 Works 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditTerence James Stannus Gray was born in Felixstowe Suffolk England on 14 September 1895 the son of Harold Stannus Gray and a member of a well established Anglo Irish family He was raised on an estate in the Gog Magog Hills outside Cambridge England He received a thorough education at Ascham St Vincent s School Eastbourne Eton and Oxford University Early in life he pursued an interest in Egyptology which culminated in the publication of two books on ancient Egyptian history and culture in 1923 In the later part of his life he lived with his second wife the Georgian princess Natalie Margaret Imeretinsky in Monaco He had previously been married to a Russian noblewoman Rimsky Korsakov 2 Gray maintained his family s racehorses in England and Ireland and in 1957 his horse Zarathustra won the Ascot Gold Cup ridden by jockey Lester Piggott in the first of his eleven wins of that race Cambridge Festival Theatre EditIn the 1920s and 1930s Gray worked as a theorist theatrical producer creator of radical dance dramas publisher of several related magazines and author of two related books His cousin was Ninette de Valois founder of the Royal Ballet 1 In 1926 Gray with no previous practical theatrical experience opened the Cambridge Festival Theatre as an experimental playhouse 1 He acquired the old Theatre Royal in the Cambridge suburb of Barnwell and substantially rebuilt it 1 The opening production was Aeschylus The Orestia with de Valois as choreographer and he continued to produce non naturalistic productions emphasising movement over speech 1 Doria Paston worked as an actress and set designer with Gray for seven years 3 Critics were divided with some praising his achievements and others saying he sacrificed text and acting to clever trickery Gray delighted in upsetting audiences but despite controversy audiences filled the theatre 1 Many of Gray s collaborators left the project over his inability to compromise 1 By 1933 he had abandoned theatre for good 4 Taoism EditAfter he left his theatrical career his thoughts turned towards philosophy and metaphysics This led to a period of travel throughout Asia including time spent at Ramana Maharshi s ashram in Tiruvannamalai India citation needed Between the years 1958 and 1974 eight books and articles in various periodicals appeared under the pseudonym Wei Wu Wei Wu wei a Taoist term which translates as action that is non action 5 His identity as the author was not revealed at the time of publication for reasons he outlined in the Preface to the first book Fingers Pointing Towards the Moon Routledge and Kegan Paul 1958 The next 16 years saw the appearance of seven subsequent books including his final work under the further pseudonym O O O in 1974 Wei Wu Wei influenced among others the British mathematician and author G Spencer Brown Galen Sharp and Ramesh Balsekar citation needed Wei Wu Wei is discussed in some detail in the book Taoism for Dummies John Wiley and Sons Canada 2013 A biography was published in 2004 5 Works EditFingers Pointing Towards The Moon Reflections of a Pilgrim on the Way 1958 London Routledge and Kegan Paul out of print 2003 Boulder Sentient Publications Foreword by Ramesh Balsekar ISBN 1 59181 010 8 Why Lazarus Laughed The Essential Doctrine Zen Advaita Tantra 1960 London Routledge and Kegan Paul out of print 2003 Boulder Sentient Publications ISBN 1 59181 011 6 Ask The Awakened The Negative Way 1963 London Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd 2nd ed 1974 out of print 1973 Boston Little Brown amp Co ISBN 0 316 92810 0 out of print 2002 Boulder Sentient Publications Foreword by Galen Sharp ISBN 0 9710786 4 5 All Else Is Bondage Non Volitional Living 1964 Hong Kong University Press reprinted 1970 1982 ISBN 962 209 025 7 out of print 1999 Sunstar Publications ISBN 1 886656 34 7 out of print 2004 Boulder Sentient Publications 1 59181 023 X Open Secret 1965 Hong Kong University Press reprinted 1970 1982 ISBN 962 209 030 3 out of print 2004 Boulder Sentient Publications ISBN 1 59181 014 0 The Tenth Man 1966 Hong Kong University Press reprinted 1967 1971 ISBN 0 85656 013 8 out of print 2003 Boulder Sentient Publications Foreword by Dr Gregory Tucker ISBN 1 59181 007 8 Posthumous Pieces 1968 Hong Kong University Press Foreword by Wayne Liquorman ISBN 0 85656 027 8 out of print 2004 Boulder Sentient Publications ISBN 1 59181 015 9 Unworldly Wise As the Owl Remarked to the Rabbit 1974 Hong Kong University Press ISBN 0 85656 103 7 out of print Note this book published under the further pseudonym O O O 2004 Boulder Sentient Publications ISBN 1 59181 019 1References Edit a b c d e f g Harbin B 1969 Terence Gray and the Cambridge Festival Theatre Educational Theatre Journal 21 4 1926 1933 doi 10 2307 3205568 JSTOR 3205568 Cosgrove Olivia Cox Laurence Kuhling Carmen eds 2010 Ireland s New Religious Movements Cambridge Scholars Publishing p 62 ISBN 978 1443826150 Digitally Archiving Photographs Films Maps amp Documents Kingsbury Time Travellers Kingsbury Time Travellers 12 June 2021 Retrieved 7 March 2022 Nicholson Steve 2016 Nobody Was Ready for That The Gross Impertinence of Terence Gray and the Degradation of Drama Theatre Research International 21 2 121 131 doi 10 1017 S030788330001470X a b Cornwell Paul 2004 Only by Failure The Many Faces of the Impossible Life of Terence Gray Salt Publishing ISBN 1844710041 External links Edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Wei Wu Wei The Wei Wu Wei Archives The Spirit Works Wei Wu Wei Biography by Gregory Tucker Wei Wu Wei Book Excerpts Articles in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wei Wu Wei amp oldid 1145861147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
