Dragon Review: The Shark Is Broken – Yvonne Arnaud Threatre

Published on: 26 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 27 Mar, 2025

Ian Shaw looks remarkably like his father Robert, the character he plays.

By Ferenc Hepp

“The shark is broken!” This is the factual premise of this play based on the making of the Spielberg cinema epic Jaws.

It is widely known that the film crew had problems with the special effects shark in the film. It did not work as planned. And life imitated art at last night’s performance, delayed because of technical difficulties: the shark in the play was broken too! But once the problem was resolved we were in for a treat.

Running for 90 minutes without an interval, the play is a comedic exploration of the behind-the-scenes drama that took place during the filming of the 1975 film. It immerses us in the tension, camaraderie and chaos that unfolded on set.

The set for the play, designed by Duncan Henderson, is an impressive replica of the Orca, the boat used during the filming, with the addition of a projected sea onto the back of the stage. The characters are distinctive and well-defined, each bringing their unique energy to the stage. Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw, plays his father with a commanding presence, capturing his strong-willed, often angry, and frustrated demeanour.

Shaw seems to be a man deeply unhappy with the filming process, at odds with both his co-stars and his own demons. Dan Fredenburgh portrays Roy Scheider as the calm and collected presence among the trio, a voice of reason. In stark contrast, Ashley Margolis depicts Richard Dreyfuss as the young, excitable, and sometimes naive actor, whose enthusiasm is met with frustration and ridicule, earning him the title of ‘idiot’ from his co-stars.

The play delves into the actors’ backgrounds, their careers, and their attitudes toward fame and filmmaking. The conversations, initially surface-level, evolve into deeper discussions about their personal lives, their struggles, and their philosophies. Stuck on the boat for prolonged periods due to Bruce the shark’s frequent malfunctions, they pass the time with games, debates, and gradually reveal more about themselves.

The cast: Ian Shaw as Robert Shaw, Dan Fredenburgh as Roy Scheider and Ashley Margolis as Richard Dreyfuss

There is plenty of tension, humour, and touching moments. In Ian Shaw’s own words, he “wanted it to be an exploration of different type of actors, different outlooks on life, as well as addiction and the idea of father figures”. This is achieved successfully with a great chemistry between the three members of the cast and the original direction by Guy Masterson.

There are memorable one-liners are peppered throughout, from discussions about the deeper themes of ‘Jaws’ being humorously dismissed with the retort, “It’s about a shark!”, to amusing predictions about the future of filmmaking, including the rise of sequels and possibly even dinosaurs!

The play is having a very well received national tour which started with small beginnings as a fringe show, but as previous critics said: “You’re going to need a bigger theatre!” They were right.

The play – by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, GFour Productions & Kenny Wax – began its life in 2019 in Brighton, followed by the Edinburgh Fringe in the same year. It also played in London in 2021 and Broadway in 2023. It is written by Ian Shaw, Robert Shaw’s son, and Joseph Nixon.

The Shark Is Broken runs until Saturday, March 29, and tickets are available via www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or 01483 440000.