Justin Butcher

Writer and lead performer, in the role of 'Cicero' for the Volterra International Roman Theatre Festival.

43 BC. The Roman Republic is at the point of collapse. Civil war looms. Julius Caesar has been assassinated. His heir Octavian and the corrupt demagogue Mark Antony set about making themselves the new rulers of Rome. Marcus Brutus, lifting his bloodstained dagger after the assassination, calls upon Cicero to restore the Republic. All eyes now look to the revered elder statesman, lawyer and orator to lead a last stand against tyranny.

In an era of new demagogues, with democracies under threat from a rising tide of new extremism, the story of this desperate, heroic episode from the ancient world has never been more salutary.

Written and performed by Justin Butcher.

Justin won Best Lead Performance in the 2022 OffWestEnd (Offies).

'A glorious one-hander with stellar acting. ****' - The Upcoming
'Poignant, remarkable performance...many moving moments.' - British Theatre Guide
'Justin Butcher's gloriously elegiac prose...reverberates in the memory.' - Irish Independent
'Mesmerising.' - The Guardian
'Fascinating, poignant, funny...Storytelling at its best.' - The Times
'Extraordinary...hilarious, picaresque and terrifying.' - Sunday Times
'Unique...stunning...a new kind of theatre.' - Metro

Shane Richie stars in the lead role in the digital revival of Justin Butcher’s absorbing solo show, Scaramouche Jones. Filmed in a London theatre, and available to stream on Stream.Theatre from Friday 26th March to Sunday 11th April 2021.

What’s On Stage Best Solo Performance 2002 (winner)
Barclays Stage Partners Best Actor Award 2002 (nominee)
Canadian Dora Award 2003 (nominee)
BankSA People’s Choice Award, Adelaide Fringe 2010 (nominee)

Royal Wedding satire, with music by Harvey Brough, Leicester Square Theatre, May-Jun ‘11

“The excellent Justin Butcher … erudite, sophisticated, lots of fun.” (The Spectator)

translation & adaptation of Bulgarian satirist Stanislav Stratiev’s 1973 classic communist-era satire, Arcola Theatre, with Gologan Productions, UK premiere, Apr-May ‘10, dir. Russell Bolam

“A sparky new version by Justin Butcher” (Michael Billington, The Guardian)
“Justin Butcher’s witty text” (Michael Coveney, The Independent)

adaptation of William Golding’s novel, comm. by Salisbury Cathedral, Festival & Playhouse for production in 2012, Golding Centenary Year

adaptation, developed for multi-media production in circus theatre tent in Kensington Gardens, summer ‘09, dir. Lucy Bailey, designed William Dudley

co-written with Ahmed Masoud in quick response to Dec ’08/Jan
’09 attack on Gaza Strip, designed Jane Frere, live music Nizar Al-Issa, Theatro Technis, Feb-Mar ‘09, Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh Fringe, Aug ‘09

"A deeply felt, humane and vividly expressive reaction to the current crisis."
(Michael Billington, The Guardian)

“Raw power … carries huge moral and emotional impact.” **** (The Scotsman)

“A harrowing journey into a very modern heart of darkness and a moving celebration of the human spirit.” (The Stage)

“A heartfelt tribute to the people of Gaza” (Palestine Telegraph)

“By far the most powerful example I’ve yet seen of a border-crossing theatrical mix ... An extraordinarily versatile cast ... Profane, witty, desperate and poetic – a voice from Gaza Beach itself” (Tribune)

retelling of King Arthur legend, a “dream of Sir Thomas Malory”, comm. Rupert Goold & Royal & Derngate Theatres, Northampton

co-written with Ben Okafor (see above), Contact Theatre, Manchester, Jul ‘07, with Manchester University’s “War & Our World” International Conference, working with local Nigerian community choir in Manchester

huge community play – original fable based on local history, comm. to celebrate reopening of Royal & Derngate Theatres, Northampton, performed in promenade by community & professional all-age cast in 5 spaces, September 2006, dir. Dani Parr

satire on 2005 G8 Summit, Blair’s Commission for Africa, Live8 etc, comm. by Host Universal for Flight 5065, London Eye, dir. Steve Keyworth, Jul ‘05

adaptation of HG Wells’ The Red Room, Dickens’ The Signalman & Poe’s The Tell-tale Heart for solo performance, The Sticking Place’s Season Of Terror, Union Theatre, Nov ‘05, & continuous touring of UK schools since

finale to anti-war trilogy, New Players Theatre, Oct-Nov ‘04

“Hits its targets with deadly accuracy … delightful in its frighteningly plausible absurdity.” (The Evening Standard)

“The shining exception is Justin Butcher … very funny … some of the best political satire around … incisive, funny and thought-provoking.” (British Theatre Guide)

“The torch was taken up by a young Oxford-educated writer-director, Justin Butcher, who was driven by indignation about the Iraq war to stage a trio of satirical revues all based on existing works. The first of them, The Madness Of George Dubya, was easily the most successful ... Butcher shrewdly tapped into Britain’s oppositional mood and on the first night the audience cheered the play to the echo, as if relieved to hear someone say in public what they themselves believed in their hearts.”

Michael Billington, State Of The Nation – British Theatre Since 1945 (2007)

sequel to Madness, Theatro Technis, Dec’ 03–Jan ‘04, Pleasance London, Feb-Mar ’04, New Players Theatre, Oct-Nov ‘04

“Butcher lands blow after blow … confirms Butcher’s rare talent for blending moral anger with brute farce.” (Michael Billington, The Guardian)

“Hilarious” (The Spectator)

“Political theatre at its best” (What’s On In London)

“Lands many tough blows through song and dance … deeply unsettling … startlingly accurate.” (The Daily Telegraph)

smash-hit anti-war musical satire hailed by The Guardian as catalyst for re-politicisation of British theatre, Theatro Technis, Jan-Feb ‘03, Pleasance London, Feb-Mar ‘03 & Arts Theatre, Apr-Aug ‘03, receiving global media coverage

Fringe Report Best Political Dramatist Award 2003 (winner)

“Excellent … deserves the warmest of welcomes … Aristophanic vitality and ability to keep abreast of events … the strength of Dubya lies in its ability to blend manic comedy with passionate polemic.” (Michael Billington, The Guardian)

“Song and dance numbers, witty one-liners … fantastic piss-take … way too close to the bone … the comedy and current affairs crackle along like Carry On meets Kubrick … jabs and tickles the ribs and inflames indignation too … packs a powerful punch … comedy with smart gags that hit the target.” (Time Out)

“A welcome blast of light relief … a judicious mixture of puerility and intelligence, and delivered with refreshing splashes of song and dance … this oil-black comedy scores … direct hits.” (The Daily Telegraph)

“Justin Butcher’s stealth-bomber of a show” (Independent On Sunday)

“This lively, sexy production has a gloriously distinctive bark” (Evening Standard)

comic update of Phaedra/Hippolytus legend, St James Cavalier Centre, Malta, Oct ‘01, Edinburgh Fringe ‘03, dir. Jamie Bower

“A modern classic: overwhelmingly intelligent … uproarious empowering of the older woman … very funny … witty, clever and comic … set[s] the stage alight and make[s] the atmosphere crackle with danger and sexual tension … as intelligent as it is hilarious.” ***** (The Scotsman)

“With an expert sense of verse and vulgarity, Butcher’s interpretation puts Liz Lochhead’s Thebans rather in the shade … genuinely sordid but always hilarious. Living proof that the Greeks will never be too old for today.” (The Daily Telegraph)

Modern re-working of Mystery Plays for Theatre Royal, Bath & Churches Together in Somerset, premiered Theatre Royal, Bath, May ‘00, then regional tour

“An unexpectedly gritty affair … extremely effective … wittily written” (Venue)

Post-modern commedia dell-arte style passion play, comm. & prod. for Greenbelt Arts Festival ‘94, Westminster Abbey & UK tour ‘95, UK tour ‘96, Greenbelt Arts Festival ‘98, UK tour ‘00

“This amazing production … offered something for everyone … kindness, a sense of humour, love of humanity … pain, anguish … wit, compassion and earthiness … You didn’t have to be a believer to get something from this production … its honest and imaginative portrayal of Christ’s lasy days on earth was both invigorating and entertaining.” (Oxford Times)

“Unsafe … impressive … challenging and entertaining, and imaginatively performed … compelling … See King Of Fools and take your friends.” (Church Times)

“There have been some moving passion plays in recent years … but none can surpass King Of Fools for energy, imagination and heart-rending power.” (The Tablet)

Justin Butcher's and Ahmed Masoud's film will be streamed via The New Theatre, Dublin at 9:15pm from 23rd March - 30th March.

Written by Justin Butcher
Produced and Directed by Jonquil Panting for BBC Radio 4
Starring David Suchet as Satan, Amir El-Masry as Jesus and Lara Sawalha as Miriam.

33 AD. Jesus enters Jerusalem to fulfil his destiny. Satan ascends from Hell to stop him.

The Devil's Passion offers an outrageously entertaining fresh perspective - as the ancient story is played out once more, in our modern world of security, surveillance and ideological warfare.

co-written with Palestinian writer Ahmed Masoud, telling of his perilous journey into Gaza in ‘09, for BBC Radio 4, dir. Jessica Dromgoole, broadcast Jan 13th ‘11

BBC Radio 4, dir. Claire Grove, broadcast Aug ‘10, featuring Jude Akuwudike & Adjoa Andoh; satirical update of Old Testament fable, set in fictitious West African country devastated by well-intentioned meddling of “development” agencies & climate-change related disasters
Pick Of The Day in The Daily Telegraph & The Daily Mail

“Nicely played and very funny satire by Justin Butcher.” (The Daily Telegraph)
“Funny and deeply tragic.” (The Daily Mail)

co-written with Nigerian musician Ben Okafor for BBC R4, dir. Richard Shannon, broadcast Jun ‘05, true story of a child soldier in the Biafran War

BBC Radio 4, dir. Claire Grove, with Paul Bhattarcharjee & Tom Smith, broadcast Dec ‘02, story of Simeon Stylites, 5th century Syrian hermit & pillar-saint

Pick Of The Day in The Guardian, The Times & The Daily Mail

“Captivating” (The Times) “Justin Butcher has done it again” (The Radio Times)

dir. Claire Grove, with Warren Mitchell, broadcast Mar ‘01

“A masterpiece of extraordinarily imaginative writing” (The Radio Times)