Ian Shaw’s play explores the production challenges of Jaws

The new play ‘The Shark is Broken’ dramatizes the chaotic behind-the-scenes production of the film Jaws. Written by Ian Shaw, the play explores the challenges faced during the making of the iconic creature feature.

During the filming of Jaws, the 1,200-kilogram mechanical shark, nicknamed ‘Bruce’, suffered from frequent malfunctions. These technical failures forced director Steven Spielberg to employ creative filming techniques, such as point-of-view shots and suspenseful musical cues, to build tension without showing the animatronic monster.

The play focuses on the fractious personalities of the film’s three lead actors: Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss.