I’ve often taken important classical, biblical or literary stories and interrogated them. I have tried to reinvigorate Lot by interpreting it differently.

I never 'say' anything in my work. I invent a world. Let others decide what is being 'said'.

We are suffocated by writers who want to enlighten us with their truths. For me, the theatre is beautiful because it is a secret, and secrets seduce us, we all want to share secrets.

Theatre should be a taxing experience: the greatest achievement of a writer is to produce a character who creates anxiety.

I don't like sympathetic characters.

I'm not interested in observed reality.

I submit all my plays to the National Theatre for rejection. To assure myself I am seeing clearly.

When I write, I am not giving a lecture, I am speculating on behavior. Sometimes this is dangerous, but it should be. As I say often, theatre is a dark place and we should keep the light out of it.

The artist who makes himself accessible is self-destructive.

I have plenty of political views and plenty of social and personal prejudices. I do not, however, value them.

A good play puts the audience through a certain ordeal.

Exhaustion is temporary. Pain is temporary. But Helene dying because I didn't find a way to get her back on time—that's permanent.

Little things done with love are better than big things without love.

There would never be anyone else. Not if he lived a thousand lifetimes.

I do not over-intellectualise the production process. I try to keep it simple: Tell the damned story.

Whenever I don't get injured, the film is a dud. I didn't bleed on 'Rhinestone.' I didn't bleed on 'Stop! Or My Mom will Shoot.'

An education, other than purely professional or technical, can even seem to be an impediment.

I'm extremely unbearable. You know, I'm narcissistic and at the same time I'm very charming - I think.

Middle age is when you find out where the action is so you can go someplace else.

I suddenly realized I was racing around so much, I could never catch up with my life

The people that are doing work that matters aren't doing work thats popular. They're just doing work that changes some people.