Most British playwrights of my generation, as well as younger folks, apparently feel somewhat obliged to Russian literature - and not only those writing for theatres. Russian literature is part of the basic background knowledge for any writer. So there is nothing exceptional in the interest I had towards Russian literature and theatre. Frankly, I couldn't image what a culture would be like without sympathy towards Russian literature and Russia, whether we'd be talking about drama or Djagilev.

Atheism is a crutch for those who cannot bear the reality of God.

Information is light. Information in itself, about anything, is light.

A great production of a black comedy is better than a mediocre production of a comedy of errors.

War is capitalism with the gloves off and many who go to war know it but they go to war because they don't want to be a hero.

Death followed by eternity the worst of both worlds. It is a terrible thought.

The whole notion of journalism being an institution whose fundamental purpose is to educate and inform and even, one might say, elevate, has altered under commercial pressure, perhaps, into a different kind of purpose, which is to divert and distract and entertain.