If you’re a fan of the blockbuster movie, Jaws, you’ll be very pleased to learn that 48-hour pre-sale tickets for The Shark Is Broken are now on sale at Official London Theatre.
After its sell-out, critically acclaimed premiere at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe, Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon’s brilliantly funny play will arrive at the Ambassadors Theatre from 11 May and we are beyond excited!
Set on the film set of Jaws, the play follows the story of the three iconic leading actors – Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss – and what happened when they got stuck on a boat waiting to film in stormy weather… and with a faulty mechanical co-star, Bruce. But the drama doesn’t end there! From going over their budget to over scheduling on location in Martha’s Vineyard, this brilliantly funny play takes a look at the troubled production of Spielberg’s first blockbuster.
Writer Ian Shaw revisits the hilarious behind-the-scenes drama of one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters and takes the role of his father, Robert Shaw, 45 years after visiting him on set. When writing the play, Ian took inspiration from first-hand accounts including the book The Jaws Log by the film’s screenwriter Carl Gottlieb.
Though the play looks at several spectacles that took place during filming, the production’s main problem was Bruce – a name borrowed from Spielberg’s lawyer, and given to three different full-sized, pneumatic sharks. While each version of Bruce worked just fine in the workshop, they became temperamental in the seawater and were unable to fight against the turbulent elements.
As the technicians wrestle with the sharks and the relationship becomes soured between Robert and Richard (played by Liam Murray Scott), the play also taps into Robert’s struggle with alcohol abuse, who turned to drink during the hold-ups.
With Ian Shaw taking to the stage in this immensely emotional but hilarious portrayal of his late father, this unique play combines behind-the-scenes whispers and a careful study of the nature of popular art.
With 48-hour pre-sale tickets now on sale, be sure to snap up those tickets!
