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.