Olivier Award nominated THE SHARK IS BROKEN will make its Australian debut in Sydney and Melbourne from August 2026. This fictional piece centred around the making of JAWS is described as “hilariously brilliant and pure genius” (Sunday Express, ★★★★★) and has been co-written by Ian Shaw, the son of JAWS actor Robert Shaw.
THE SHARK IS BROKEN is a razor-sharp, laugh-out-loud play about fame, failure, and friendship under pressure – an edgy, once is a lifetime theatrical treat that proves the biggest drama was never in the water.
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.
Event Details:
Dates: 28th August to 11th October 2026
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes with no interval
Suitable for: This production is recommended for ages 8 years+
Location: Foundry Theatre (inside the Sydney Lyric)
Warnings: This production includes strong language, references to drug and alcohol use, depictions of alcohol abuse, and tobacco/cigarette smoking on stage.
This production contains flashing lighting effects (including a storm sequence), haze, and loud sound effects.