The Shark is Broken
I think it’s fair to say that Jaws remains one of the cult films of it’s time, with many watching through their fingers as the animatronic Great White shark sets out on a killing spree on Amity Island in New England, USA. It has instilled fear into many a sea goer, with the iconic theme tune written by John Williams instantly providing goosebumps to this day.
Of course, in today’s CGI and AI generated film world, some might say that the 1975 film is now comical in its appearance, however one fact remains, it’s Spielberg magic and still has a very dedicated fan base, some of whom were in the audience at Birmingham REP, with many branded t-shirts and jumpers dotted around the auditorium.
The Shark Is Broken is a comedic stage play co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the 1975 film Jaws. The play takes place aboard the film's iconic fishing boat, where actors Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider are stranded due to a malfunctioning mechanical shark. As they await repairs, tensions rise, egos clash, and personalities collide, leading to a mix of humour and drama.
Firstly, this is an acting masterclass by each performer. Ian Shaw (co-writer) who portrays his own father Robert Shaw in the play is quite simply magnificent. Every line spoken with such grit, his spiral with alcohol and his heart wrenching story of his father’s suicide both reigned in the humour to provide show stopping moments. Dan Fredenburgh as Roy Scheider offered a more subtle performance, being the calm in the craziness that ensues between Shaw and Dreyfuss, played with such energy and bravado by Ashley Margolis. This 1 hour 30 minute straight through play sped by, showing how captivating the performances and dialogue was.
The set, by Duncan Henderson really did set us sail on the open water, with three LED screens displaying the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean amongst film reel, reminding us of the big screen this film inhabited back in the 70’s. The clever use of subtle background noise of the creaking of the boat, and the jolts of the performers when hitting a wave made us feel completely immersed and if I’m honest, had me swaying in my seat!
The dialogue was very fast paced with not a drop in pace, testament to how comfortable the three performers clearly are working together. There were many funny lines about whether the film would be a success, and whether people would be talking about it 50 years down the line.....little did they know! And then of course mention of Spielberg working on his next project about UFO's and aliens.......I'm sure we all know that one without having to phone home!
This is a dynamic play with plenty of bite, so don’t miss the boat and snap up a ticket while you can!
This show was reviewed on the 6th May 2025 at the Birmingham REP where it runs until the 10th May 2025. Tickets available here: The Shark is Broken | Birmingham Rep
Review written by Emma Rowley
AD/Gifted
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
Check out other reviews from Curtain Call Reviews and get in touch to have our reviewers head to your show.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.