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BrumHour saw The Shark is Broken at the invite of Birmingham Rep.
By David Fox x.com/DavidFoxTheatre
The Shark is Broken at Birmingham Rep: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”Outstanding!”
Directed by Martha Geelan, Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff, Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. Based on Original Direction by Guy Masterson
The Summer of 1974. Young director Steven Spielberg is filming his new movie Jaws – however not all is plain sailing. All at sea, with nothing to do but wait for long hours between takes, actors Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider bicker, bond, and battle egos as production delays mount. And worst of all… The Shark is Broken! This new play is a fantastic behind-the-scenes comedy-drama taking place on the set of Jaws exploring fame, masculinity, and artistic insecurity with humour and surprising emotional depth.
Originally a smash hit in the West End and Broadway is, the play now on tour, and arrives in Birmingham this week at The Rep. Written by Ian Shaw who stars as his own father, film legend Robert Shaw, with inspiration taken from Robert’s filming notebook. Watching it is the perfect way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the original film!
Acting in The Shark is Broken is a standout element, with Ian Shaw delivering a compelling and heartfelt performance as his father, Robert. He captures Shaw senior’s charisma, volatility, and weariness with remarkable nuance. Dan Fredenburgh brings a quiet intensity and grounded presence to Roy Scheider, portraying him as the steady anchor amid the chaos. Ashley Margolis shines as the young, anxious, and sometimes obnoxious Richard Dreyfuss, skilfully balancing humour with vulnerability. Together, the trio creates a dynamic, often tense chemistry that brings the claustrophobic setting and emotional undercurrents of the play vividly to life. At the time they were so convincing it was difficult to believe we weren’t watching the original actors!
The Shark is Broken is full of clever humour and dramatic irony, with lines about Spielberg’s uncertain future, the famously faulty mechanical shark, and history that had yet to happen. References to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Richard Nixon root the story in its era while also reflecting how much the world—and cinema—has changed. At the heart of it all is Ian Shaw’s moving performance as his father, Robert Shaw. It’s more than just an impressive imitation; it’s an emotional journey. Shaw does not shy away from his father’s cantankerous and volatile nature, and also explores his father’s and grandfather’s struggles with alcoholism and the pain that runs through generations. There’s a quiet, powerful truth in the idea that any son would want to go back and help a father who couldn’t help himself. More than a behind-the-scenes drama, The Shark is Broken is a heartfelt tribute—a love letter from a son to his father.
The set of The Shark is Broken is deceptively simple, yet brilliantly evocative, recreating the cramped and claustrophobic interior of the Orca with meticulous detail. Every element—from the worn wood panelling to the cluttered props and nautical equipment—feels authentic, immersing the audience in the world of Jaws. Fans of the film will instantly recognise and appreciate the accuracy, which adds an extra layer of nostalgia and atmosphere. The static setting cleverly mirrors the actors’ sense of entrapment, both physically and emotionally, as they wait out delays in filming. This confined space becomes a pressure cooker, allowing the characters’ tensions, insecurities, and unlikely camaraderie to simmer and explode. In this way, the set is not just a backdrop but an integral part of the play’s drama and darkly comic tone.
One of the most famous scenes in the original film is Shaw’s telling of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis – and this play explores its conception and development. Shaw was displeased with the five pages of dialogue and re-wrote the scene himself into the classic version we know today. The outstanding moment of this play comes when Ian Shaw recreates his father’s performance in this iconic scene. A masterclass in acting and literally mesmerising!
Everything about this production is outstanding! I had been looking forward to seeing The Shark is Broken‘ from its announcement – I am very pleased to say it did not disappoint! In its most basic form The Shark is Broken is simply a play about three men on a boat where nothing much really happens. However, it feels so much more than that and is a play full of emotion, humour, and a lot of heart. If you are a fan of the original film, or simply want to take a peek behind the scenes of the making of cinema’s first ‘blockbuster’ movie, this play is a must-see!
Running for 95 minutes with no interval, The Shark is Broken is at Birmingham Rep until 10th May 2025. Last tickets here birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/the-shark-is-broken/
