Winner of the 2001 George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright for Redundant, featured in the volume Publication timed to coincide with the premiere of his new work for the RSC - I'll Be the Devil - opening at the Tricycle Theatre, London, in February 2008, and published by Methuen Drama In 2006 his play Heroes was commissioned and toured by the National Theatre's Education Department The volume also features an introduction by the author and a chronology of his work

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.