As soon as someone I don’t respect tells me I can’t do something, it just makes me want to do it even more..

I wanted to have a place and a space, and a building, in which to create a season of work I am here because the idea of a theatrical home is very app….

I'm basically quite a cheerful person..

It's no accident that Cinderella has been in the culture for thousands of years, and in cross cultures. I've traveled a bit recently, and in Russia, ….

There are some amazing stories from all over this country, where people's work and contribution has been acknowledged. To be part of that is an absol….

The elasticity of Shakespeare is extraordinary..

Even if people are all from the same place, there can be very, very different approaches. It's one of the things I'm fascinated by. It's why I like d….

Friendship is one of the most tangible things in a world which offers fewer and fewer supports..

Aging is the diminishing of early fearlessness..

One of the things that makes Hamlet unique among Shakespeare's characters is his courage to face up to the darker elements of his personality..

It's very strange that the people you love are often the people you're most cruel to..

I feel more Irish than English. I feel freer than British, more visceral, with a love of language. Shot through with fire in some way. That's why I r….

Hamlet and Victor Frankenstein are each obsessed with death. Hamlet's whole story is a philosophical preparation for death; Victor's is an intellectu….

Truth is like most opinions - best unexpressed..

Two billion people watched the royal wedding. Clearly, they're interested in that - the outside of what appears to be lives that have a certain amoun….

If you've been to Moscow, it's a really exciting and great city, but it still feels like you should be a little careful about which way you're going ….

My definition of success is control..

If you've done a brilliant version it becomes something else..

I only really cast people who are desperate to be in it - who were dying to be in it, whose talent I believed in and were dead ready to do the work t….

The ferocity of passion that is engendered by people when they don't like what you've done is really tremendous. It's intense..

If it's good art, it's good..