The Butcher Boy

Growing up in a narrow-minded Irish village in the 1960s, young Francie Brady lives in a comic book dreamland with his parents and best friend Joe, but all that ends when the Nugents – mother and son – move to town. After the haughty Mrs. Nugent denounces the Brady family as “pigs,” a violent obsession enters Francie’s world and only builds as the life he loves crumbles around him. When he cannot fight the dark forces any longer, the story spins to a catastrophic conclusion.

The Butcher Boy is Patrick McCabe’s shattering masterpiece. Published in 1992, the novel was hailed as a modern classic and has remained in the Irish consciousness for decades. A 1997 film adaptation was directed by Neil Jordan and starred Fiona Shaw, Stephen Rea, and Sinéad O’Connor.

This musical adaptation is the first original musical in eight years to be developed by Irish Repertory Theatre. In 2017, high school senior Asher Muldoon (Dear Evan Hansen National Tour) approached Irish Rep with this adaptation, for which he had written a hypnotic score, smart lyrics, and a funny and moving book. In 2018, Irish Rep mounted a workshop and an enthusiastically received concert performance. We are thrilled to present the world premiere in 2022.