Please note that The Shark Is Broken has been postponed in response to government advice regarding coronavirus (COVID-19). It is expected to be rescheduled at a later date.
Drawing on material from Robert Shaw’s diaries alongside screenwriter Carl Gottlieb’s book The Jaws Log, The Shark Is Broken is an insightful three-hander about actors Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss, who played shark hunter Quint, police chief Brody and marine biologist Hooper.
With tension behind the scenes and a series of setbacks including saltwater-shy animatronic sharks and haemorrhaging budgets, the drama behind the story is almost too absurd to be true.
The Shark Is Broken debuted at Edinburgh Festival in 2019. Having been picked by producer Sonia Friedman as part of her season at the Ambassadors Theatre, the show transfers to London with co-writers Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, director Guy Masterson, and set and costume designer Duncan Henderson.
The cast includes Ian Shaw, who reprises his role as his late father Robert.
Malfunctioning sharks, bad weather, and a boat that was definitely too small: catch The Shark Is Broken at the Ambassadors Theatre from 11 May 2020.
Important information
Playing at: Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, London, WC2H 9NDPerformance dates: 11 May 2021 - 18 Jul 2021
Running time: 1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Age restrictions: Recommended 12+
Special notice: The Shark Is Broken offers an entertaining glimpse into the Hollywood machine behind Jaws, which will fascinate those who’ve laughed at or hidden from the famously creaky on-screen monster.
