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Birmingham Rep in Centenary Square, Birmingham
Three men are seated inside a rustic cabin-on a ship, engaged in a lively conversation. The man in the centre wears a cap looking into the camera, while the man on the left has a focused expression and holds a newspaper, the man on the right is laughing. The environment is wooden with nautical-themed windows and various seafaring gear visible.

The Shark is Broken

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Dive into the drama behind the scenes of Hollywood’s first blockbuster
Sensational fun”
★★★★★ Sunday Express

Fade in: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed…again. The lead actors – theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider – are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic…if it doesn’t sink them all.

Ian Shaw gives one of the most exhilarating theatrical performances of the year”
★★★★★ Evening Standard

Step aboard the Orca and into THE SHARK IS BROKEN, a “profound dive behind the scenes of the making of Jaws” (The Daily Telegraph, ★★★★). This Olivier Award-nominated new play is “hilariously brilliant and pure genius” raves the Sunday Express (★★★★★) and stars Ian Shaw (War Horse, Common) as his father, Robert Shaw.

A smash hit in the West End and on Broadway, THE SHARK IS BROKEN celebrates movie history and peeks at the choppy waters behind Hollywood’s first blockbuster.

Witty Wonderful Word Play”
★★★★★ Sunday Mirror

Short tempers. Short circuits. 95 minutes, no intermission.

Price

From £19.50

Special Offers

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Teens Go Free: Receive one complimentary young persons ticket (13-19 years) when you book one standard ticket on Wed 7 May performance at 7.30pm . Discount will be applied automatically at checkout when you add both tickets to your basket. T&Cs apply – Find Out More

Aged 16 to 25 Discounted tickets are available for this production for registered 16-25 members. T&Cs apply – Find Out More

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Written by

Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon

Age Guidance

14+

Please note, no under 5s will be admitted to the auditorium.

Content Advice

This production features strong language and references to alcohol and drugs.

Running Time

1 hour 35 minutes with no interval.

Access

Audio Described:  Sat 10 May, 2.30pm

A Free Touch Tour is available to book at 1pm before the Audio Described performance. 

Captioned: Wed 7 May, 7.30pm

Fees and Charges

Please note there is a transaction fee of £3.50 on all payment types.

Venue

Trailer

Key art for The Shark is Broken. A play by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. The image of a shark head with a rusty gear is imposed over the text ' The Shark is Broken'. The head acting as the 'A' and the gear acting as the 'O'.
Play Video

Production Photos

1 /
Three men are engaged in a serious discussion at a table inside a rustic ship cabin-like setting with large windows showing a stormy sea in the background.

Photography by Manuel Harlan

Three men on a theatrical set designed to look like a boat, with one person sitting to the left looking into the distance, another sitting at a table inside the cabin, and the third sitting on top of the cabin. The background simulates a seascape with a clear sky.

Photography by Manuel Harlan

Three men in a boat cabin set, engaging in animated interaction. Two men are sitting at a table inside the cabin watching the third who is humorously doing push-ups on the floor.

Photography by Manuel Harlan

Three men looking thoughtfully at each other around a table in a boat cabin with rustic décor, sitting. On the table is a open bottle of alcohol and surrounding them are large windows with a view of the sea in the background.

Photography by Manuel Harlan

Three actors on stage in a dramatic scene with an ocean backdrop. There are two men arguing with a third in the middle of the two of them holding them back from an altercation.

Photography by Manuel Harlan

Three men engaged in a serious conversation at a dimly lit table, with theatrical stage lighting emphasizing their expressions.

Photography by Manuel Harlan

Rehearsal Room

1 /
Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. (L-R) Actors Dan Fredenburgh and Ian Shaw point at each other with excited expressions.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. Ian Shaw lies down on a bench. Dan Fredenburgh is looking upwards and making a shushing gesture at Ashley Margolis, who is comedically peering through a window on stage, holding a newspaper.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. ActorsDan Fredenburgh and Ashley Margolis are both reading newspapers. Dan is sat at a table, while Ashley is stood up excitedly.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. Ian Shaw sits on a cooler, with a plastic water cup in one hand, and gesturing outwards with his other hand.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. (L-R) Actors Ian Shaw Dan Fredenburgh, and Ashley Margolis sit on the set, laughing together.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. (L-R) Actors Dan Fredenburgh and Ian Shaw sit at a table. Ian places a hand on Dan''s shoulder and smiles at him.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. Actor Dan Fredenburgh sits at a table, talking to actor Ashley Margolis who is resting his chin on his hands and standing at the other end of the table.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Rehearsals for The Shark is Broken. (L-R) Actors Dan Fredenburgh, Ian Shaw and Ashley Margolis sit around a table looking off-camera.

Rehearsal Photography by Danny Khan.

Cast

Headshot of Ian Shaw

Robert Shaw

Ian Shaw
Headshot of Dan Fredenburgh

Roy Scheider

Dan Fredenburgh
Headshot of Ashley Margolis

Richard Dreyfuss

Ashley Margolis

Creatives

Director

Martha Geelan

Assistant Director

Molly Stacey

Based on Original Direction by

Guy Masterson

Set and Costume Design

Duncan Henderson

Lighting Design

Jon Clark

Sound Design

Adam Cork

Associate Sound Designer

James Melling

Video Design

Nina Dunn
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