Butler Plays: 1

Butler Plays: 1brings together into one volume four of themajor plays by this award-winning author. Praised for the gritty detailand realism of his work, Leo Butler has quietly established areputation in recent years as a potent and skilfull documenter ofcontemporary 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).

InRedundant 'Butler boldly creates a psychologicallycomplex female lead, surrounding her with unjudged dead-beats, eachdistinctively vocalising caustic Sheffield Vernacular.' (EveningStandard)

Lucky Dogis a startlingly sensitive depiction of one couple's relationship. Michael Billington commented, 'Iam still astonished by Butler's profound understanding of maritalsolitude. Nothing much happens on the surface, yet underneath a lotgoes 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 nightmareof recrimination and loss. It premiered at the Belfast Theatre Festivalin October 2006.