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Justin Butcher

JUSTIN BUTCHER

  
Nationality:    British
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    United Agents  

Justin Butcher (Writer/Director) read Classics at Oxford, and trained subsequently at Drama Studio London, graduating in 1992, since when his work as a playwright and director has gained global recognition, with credits including: Scaramouche Jones, starring Pete Postlethwaite (Dublin Theatre Festival 2001, UK tour 2002, World Tour 2003); the Madness Of George Dubya (Arts Theatre, London, 2003); a Weapons Inspector Calls (Pleasance London 2003-4, Fringe Report Best Political Dramatist award 2003); Breaking Strain (Edinburgh Fringe 2003); Guantanamo Baywatch (New Players Theatre, London, 2003); the Firebrand (Royal & Derngate, Northampton 2007); the Millennium Man (Theatre Royal, Bath & Uk tour, 2000); King Of fools (Westminister abbey, 1995, and UK tours). He has also written three plays for BBC Radio 4: Chukwudebelu -- Preserved of God (with Ben Okafor); the Man On the Pillar, about St. Simeon Stylites, and the Seven White Masks Of Scaramouche Jones, starring Warren Mitchell.

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below is a list of Justin Butcher's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Breaking Strain         Childhood In Berlin         Curtain Raisers         Devil's Passion or Easter In Hell         Firebrand, The         Go To Gaza, Drink the Sea         Guantanamo Baywatch         King Of Fools         Last Great Quest, The         Madness Of George Dubya, The         Millennium Man         Peter Pan         Present Tense         Prisoner Of Windsor, The, Or, The King's Spit         Red Room, The         Roman Bath, The         Ruin Of Britain, The         Scaramouche Jones         Spire, The         Weapons Inspector Calls, A
Breaking Strain

Synopsis:
Sexually explosive update of the Greek legend of Hippolytus and Phaedra. aphrodite moves in malicious, mysterious ways - hilarious send-up of Greek tragedy.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Burton Taylor Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire     16 Sep 2002

Organisations:
Passion Pit Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Childhood In Berlin

Synopsis:
A happy childhood growing up in the Templehof district of Berlin

Notes:
Based on the book "A Childhood In Berlin 1927-1938" by Max Newman

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Historical drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Curtain Raisers

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Devil's Passion or Easter In Hell

Devil's Passion or Easter In Hell
Satan is keeping an eye on a radical new preacher Y shua Bar-Yussef otherwise known as Jesus

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
St James Theatre, London     2015

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Methuen Drama 2016   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Monologue play

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Firebrand, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
Royal and Derngate Theatres, Northampton

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Historical drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Go To Gaza, Drink the Sea

Synopsis:
a highly atmosphEric fusion of moving personal testimonies with searing film images, haunting music and soundscape bearing witness to the dignity, courage and suffering of the people of Gaza, performed by a Palestinian and British cast.

Notes:
written & directed by Justin Butcher And Ahmed Masoud; designed & co-devised by Jane Frere

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Passion Pit Theatre & Zeitgeist Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Guantanamo Baywatch

Synopsis:
the story of sand, sea, sex and prisoner abuse is a bizarre concoction of satire and nightmarish fantasy, as a holiday in Guantanamo Bay morphs into a bizarre blend of Alice In Wonderland and the Great escape.
- http://www.arts-archive.co.uk/index.php?pg=12&action=work&genre=P&gname=Play&wid=S1111148178

Notes:
final part of the Dubya Trilogy

1st Produced:
New Players, London     19 Oct 2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  11            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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King Of Fools

Synopsis:
Controversial Passion Play with former Nigerian boy soldier Ben Okafor as Jesus.
- http://www.arts-archive.co.uk/index.php?pg=12&action=work&genre=P&gname=Play&wid=S01402357143

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
London     21 Apr 2000

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Last Great Quest, The

Synopsis:
Captain Scott in the Antartic

Notes:
Based on the book "The Last Great Quest" by Max Jones

1st Produced:
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff     2015

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Historical drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Madness Of George Dubya, The

Synopsis:
Satire, songs and insanity. 'tension is mounting in the Gulf, war drums are beating in Britain and America, and the commanding general of a US air base in Britain goes 'a little funny in the head' and orders his airborne division, each armed with countless megatons of nuclear missiles, to attack their primary targets in Iraq. It's a frantic race against time for President George Dubya and Prime Minister Tony to recall the planes and prevent an all-out war in the Middle east. . .a rollercoaster ride through the delights and terrors of global war, coming soon to a town near you!
- http://www.arts-archive.co.uk/index.php?pg=12&action=work&genre=P&gname=Play&wid=S1805673116

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Passion Pit Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  11            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Millennium Man

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Based on "The Mystery Plays"

1st Produced:
UK touur     2000

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Peter Pan

Synopsis:
Clap hands if you believe. . .

Notes:
Adapted by Justin Butcher and Lucy Bailey. Based on the play "Peter Pan" by J M Barrie

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Adaptation

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Present Tense

Synopsis:
the return of the toughest creative challenge in town. a group of playwrights, directors, film-makers, poets and musicians have one week to respond to the most important news story of the moment. Some of the UK's most exciting talent convenes to select the most momentous story on the news agenda. they each have one week to create a piece of work that responds to the story they choose. as the news changes, they will be forced to adapt their work, until it is performed for you the public on Sunday 27 April 2008 - exactly one week after they began.
- http://www.arts-archive.co.uk/index.php?pg=12&action=production&genre=P&gname=Play&wid=T0559777382

Notes:
written by Justin Butcher, Katie Douglas, Jack Thorne, David Watson

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Piece

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Prisoner Of Windsor, The, Or, The King's Spit

Synopsis:
Created fresh in the weeks following the Royal Wedding, this up-to-the-minute response from one of the most renowned theatrical satirists of his generation provides immediate comment on the World Wide Wed via the medium of musical comedy.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Passion Pit Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Satire

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
Theatre Record Volume XXXI (2011) Issue 10 Page 506

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Red Room, The

Synopsis:
a cocky Victorian gent eager to debunk a local myth, changes his tune after a night spent in the notorious bed chamber of a stately pile

Notes:
part of Terror 2005 A repertoire of short plays by various writers. Adapted from H G Wells

1st Produced:

Organisations:
the Sticking Place

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
horror playlet

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Roman Bath, The

Synopsis:
Ivan returns from a trip to the seaside to find his home torn apart. Builders have unearthed a lost treasure beneath his floorboards: an ornate bath dating back to Roman times. as the excavation destroys his flat, professors, businessman with dodgy Swiss connections, local councillors, reporters and even the national union of lifeguards set up camp. everyone wants to claim the discovery - while all Ivan wants is some peace.

Notes:
Original Playwright - Stanislav Stratiev

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Gologan Productions

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
adaptation

Parts:
Male:  7            Female:  2            Other:  doubling

Further Reference:
-

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Ruin Of Britain, The

Synopsis:
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
Royal and Derngate Theatres, Northampton

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Historical drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Scaramouche Jones

Scaramouche Jones
11pm Millennium eve. ancient clown, Scaramouche, gives his final performance, charting a bizarre odyssey through comic misadventures and the century's darkest episodes, to reveal the loves, brutalities, ecstasies and tragedies beneath his seven white masks. epic, poetic, profoundly moving

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Bristol Old Vic/Tour     03 Apr 2002

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Spire, The

Synopsis:
A spire is to be constructed on an ancient cathedral - but can the foundations take it?

Notes:
Based on the novel "The Spire" by William Golding

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Adapation

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Weapons Inspector Calls, A

Synopsis:
In a Weapons Inspector Calls, it's the eve of the US presidential elections, the polls have opened and President George Dubya and his cronies are gathered in the Oval Office to celebrate his imminent re-election. But then a ghostly Weapons Inspector turns up, having spent the past 18 months and $900 million trawling the Middle east for the fabled WMD. He has questions to ask all of those gathered around the festive table.

Notes:
based on JB Priestley's classic 1946 thriller

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  7            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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