Butler Plays

Butler Plays: 1 brings together into one volume four of the major plays by this award-winning author. Praised for the gritty detail and realism of his work Leo Butler has quietly established a reputation in recent years as a potent and skilfull documenter of contemporary social and moral issues. Made of Stone produced in the Royal Court Young Writers'' Festival 2000 was praised for its ''rock-hard characterisation with buzzing dialogue'' (Evening Standard). In Redundant ''Butler boldly creates a psychologically complex female lead surrounding her with unjudged dead-beats each distinctively vocalising caustic Sheffield Vernacular.'' (Evening Standard) Lucky Dog is a startlingly sensitive depiction of one couple''s relationship. Michael Billington commented ''I am still astonished by Butler''s profound understanding of marital solitude. Nothing much happens on the surface yet underneath a lot goes on as Sue and Eddie a Sheffield couple in their late fifties share a solitary Christmas.'' (Guardian) The Early Bird taps into the darkest fears of any parent - the disappearance of their child - to brilliantly capture the nightmare of recrimination and loss. It premiered at the Belfast Theatre Festival in October 2006.