"I want to create theatre that connects with people's lives, not a piece of candy floss"“

"I think a joke only works if it's painfully true.  If you didn't laugh you'd cry"

"Plays could possibly find some way into the 1990's by frankly being more theatrical.  If theatre's going to exist, it has to be unashamedly theatrical, and not rely on a fancy set, with a sofa and a French window.”

“You ain’t seen a John Godber play unless directed by me.”

“Plays – are a way of understanding the world”

“Plays start as films in your head.”

“Audiences often clap wood. (The set)  It gets in the way!  In ‘Teechers’ we just have chairs.”

“I’m getting older I’m not doing “Running-About” plays so much, I’m doing “Sitting-Down” plays, the oscillation of the humour and the way that I let the audience come into it, I think I’m getting a little bit more sophisticated; I hope I’m getting more sophisticated.”