What follows is a Q&A Interview with Elizabeth Durand, Artistic Director of the London professional theatre company, Theatre Aezir. The Beat Magazine spoke with Elizabeth about the company’s production of The Shark Is Broken, playing at First Baptist Church from April 9 to 19.
(Pictured: Elizabeth Durand, Artistic Director of Theatre Aezir.)
Q. What inspired Theatre Aezir to select The Shark Is Broken as its Spring production?
I am constantly on the hunt for fresh, intriguing scripts, and The Shark Is Broken immediately stood out. While everyone knows JAWS as the definitive summer blockbuster that launched Steven Spielberg’s career, this play offers something deeper: a profound, behind-the-scenes look at the volatile personalities and relationships that nearly sank the production. The turning point for me was hearing from a Gen Z colleague who saw the show in New York. Despite having never seen the original film, she was captivated by the storytelling and the caliber of the acting. That confirmed it for me—this isn’t just a play for fans of the movie; it’s a powerful human drama that resonates with everyone.
Q. Could you provide some background information about the play?
It’s a fascinating story: the play was co-written by Ian Shaw, who looks exactly like his father, Robert Shaw (the actor who played Quint in JAWS). Ian actually played his father in the first productions! It started small in Brighton back in 2019 and moved to the Edinburgh Fringe before the pandemic hit. Once theatre returned, it became a massive hit in London’s West End, eventually earning an Olivier nomination. We were lucky to have the North American premiere right here in Ontario at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre in 2022, followed by a smash-hit run on Broadway in 2023. Everywhere it goes, audiences and critics fall in love with it.
Q. Could you provide a brief plot synopsis of the play? Do any of the famous scenes from the film appear in the play?
So, picture this: it’s 1974, and the three stars of Jaws—Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider—are stuck on a tiny boat called the Orca.
What was supposed to be a quick 55-day shoot has turned into a 159-day nightmare. Why? Because the mechanical sharks keep breaking down the second they hit the salt water. So, while the crew is frantically trying to fix “Bruce” the shark, these three huge personalities are trapped together for days on end with nothing to do but drink, play cards, and drive each other crazy. It’s a hilarious and sometimes heavy look at the egos and the bonding that happened when the cameras weren’t rolling.
(Pictured: Josh Cottrell as Robert Shaw, Andrew Dodd as Roy Scheider, and Jackson Balint as Richard Dreyfuss.)
As for the movie itself, you definitely get some iconic moments! The big one is the “Indianapolis” monologue. Robert Shaw actually wrote a lot of that speech himself in real life, so the play shows the “behind-the-scenes” version of how that legendary scene came together. It’s a really cool “meta” moment for anyone who loves the film.
Q. One of your promo pieces for the play encourages people to rewatch (or watch for the first time) the original 1975 film, Jaws. Could you elaborate on that?
You definitely don’t need to see the movie to enjoy the play, but it certainly helps you appreciate why Robert Shaw is so incredibly grumpy in our version! Rewatching the 1975 classic reminds you of the legendary masterpiece the world eventually saw—while our show reminds you of the chaotic reality behind it. It’s the ultimate “Expectation vs. Reality” comparison: the film is the polished final product, but our play reveals a broken shark, a sinking boat, and three lead actors who were five minutes away from throwing each other overboard. Plus, for the eagle-eyed fans, the play is packed with “Easter Eggs” that make the experience even more rewarding.
(Pictured: Andrew Dodd as Roy Scheider.)
Q. The main characters (actors) depicted in the play are well known to most moviegoers. What challenges have you faced in bringing these folks to the stage?
In theatre, there’s a well-known maxim that casting is 80-85% of the show. I would never have programmed The Shark Is Broken without total confidence that we could find actors to inhabit these legendary roles. We are incredibly fortunate to have Josh Cottrell, one of London’s finest actors, who brings the perfect look and age to the role of Robert Shaw—he is truly magic on stage. For Roy Scheider, Andrew Dodd was the only actor I considered after his stellar performance in Misery. To complete the trio, our search for the high-energy Richard Dreyfuss led us to Jackson Balint from Windsor, who perfectly captures Dreyfuss’s iconic volatility. Under Dylan Trahan’s direction, these three have truly brought these Hollywood giants to life.
(Pictured: Josh Cottrell as Robert Shaw.)
Q. Obviously, the shark plays a major role in the success of Jaws. Does the shark appear in The Shark Is Broken?
The shark doesn’t make a physical appearance, but Bruce—as the mechanical shark was famously nicknamed—is a constant, looming presence! Ironically, Steven Spielberg named the shark after his lawyer, which tells you everything you need to know about his relationship with his lawyer! While you won’t see a fin on stage, you’ll certainly feel the weight of his mechanical failures and the havoc they wreaked on our three protagonists.
(Pictured: Jackson Balint as Richard Dreyfuss.)
Q. How would you describe the sets, props, and costumes of the play?
Our production design is a love letter to the Orca. Designer and builder John Beverley has created a stunning, “sliced-open” version of the famous vessel, allowing the audience to peek directly into the high-tension environment where the actors spent those 159 days. The set features a meticulous recreation of the film’s iconic banquette and table, surrounded by authentic nautical props and décor curated by Doug Cottrell. Framing the entire scene is a breathtaking 12’ x 20’ backdrop of the open ocean and sky. To complete immersion, the costumes are direct recreations of the actors’ film attire. However, getting that 1970s “Dreyfuss” bleach job on the denim jacket was a production in itself!
(Pictured: Scene Painter Adriel Kuepfer.)
Q. Tell me about your venue – First Baptist Church.
We love the versatility of our space at First Baptist! By converting the gym into an intimate black box theatre, we create a unique atmosphere that our audience finds incredibly welcoming. Thanks to a recent grant and our amazing donors, we’ve moved away from borrowed wooden risers and now own our own Staging Canadell risers. This means every seat in the house is a great one! Plus, the space is fully accessible via elevator, with restrooms conveniently located on both floors.
Q. What can audiences expect from The Shark Is Broken?
I think the biggest surprise for our audience is going to be the intimacy of it all. Because we’ve turned the gym into this tight, professional black box space, you aren’t just watching a play from a distance—you’re basically a stowaway on the Orca. You can expect to feel that salt-air tension and the claustrophobia of three massive egos trapped in a tiny cabin. It’s also much funnier than people expect. There’s this constant, witty friction between the three leads that keeps you laughing, but then it’ll suddenly pivot into a really raw, human moment about the price of fame or the fear of failure. Essentially, you can expect a ‘masterclass in character.’ It’s a fast-paced, 90-minute dive into the messy reality behind a masterpiece. You’ll walk out of the theater looking at that movie—and those three actors—in a completely different light. It’s a bit of a ‘behind-the-curtain’ thrill.
Q. Is there anything else you think readers should know about The Shark Is Broken?
If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that this show is a massive labor of love from a team that is operating at the top of its game.
We aren’t just ‘putting on a play’ in a gym; we’ve completely reimagined our space at First Baptist. Between the brand-new seating risers, which we just debuted (thanks to our incredible donors!), and the insane level of detail in John Beverley’s set, we are pushing Theatre Aezir to a whole new level.
I really want to highlight the atmosphere, too. Craig is doing some brilliant work with the lighting to capture that ‘stuck at sea’ feeling, and Doug has been a machine sourcing authentic nautical props—you can almost smell the salt air. But the real secret weapon is the soundscape. Avery is a master at building that immersive environment, and our director, Dylan, has had a hand in every single layer of it to make sure the audience feels every wave hitting the hull.
From Mike Semple keeping the technical gears turning to our cast—Josh, Andrew, and Jackson—finding the soul of these three icons, it’s been a total collaboration. At its heart, The Shark Is Broken is about people trying to create a masterpiece while everything around them is falling apart. I think anyone who’s ever tried to build something or lead a team is going to see themselves in this. It’s gritty, it’s hilarious, and it’s a great night of theatre for London. We can’t wait to welcome you aboard!
Q. Tell me about Theatre Aezir, its origins, mandate, and future plans.
Theatre Aezir really started from a simple, stubborn idea: that London deserved a space for professional-grade, provocative theatre that doesn’t just play it safe. We wanted to create ‘Theatre for the 21st Century’—shows that are lean, mean, and intellectually curious. Our artistic aesthetic has always been about the actor and the text. We strip away the fluff to focus on high-stakes stories that stay with you long after you leave your seat. We want to challenge our audience, not just entertain them.
As a registered charity, our mandate includes providing work and educational opportunities for theatre practitioners and actors, and we strive to build community and deepen the city’s cultural life.
As for our origins, we’re a theatre company without a theatre. Although rather nomadic, First Baptist has proved to be a great venue, as this is our third production in this space. We’ve been proving that you don’t need a massive proscenium arch to create fantastic drama.
Looking at the future? It’s all about transformation. Thanks to some incredible support from our donors and the community, we’ve been able to invest in professional black box equipment—like our brand-new seating risers—that allows us to turn any space into a high-end theatre. We’re progressing toward more immersive, technically ambitious work (like the ‘sliced’ Orca you’ll see in The Shark Is Broken). In the fall, we’ll move again for Bluebirds, which we will produce in the RCR Museum. Our goal is to keep growing as a hub for local talent and a destination for theatergoers who want something a bit more ‘edge-of-your-seat.’ We’re just getting started.
All Photos by Ryan Memarazdeh.
| CAST | |
| Richard Dreyfuss | Jackson Balint |
| Roy Scheider | Andrew Dodd |
| Robert Shaw | Josh Cottrell |
| Stage Director | Dylan Trahan |
| Stage Manager | Anna Whitehead |
| Technical Artists | |
| Technical Director | Mike Semple |
| Producer | Elizabeth Durand |
| Costume designer | Elizabeth Durand |
| Sound designer | Avery Brown |
| Set Designer/Builder | John Beverley |
| Lighting Designer | Craig Blackley |
| Sound Operator | Jessica Norrie |
| ASM | Jill Canterbury |
| Props Master | Doug Cottrell |
| Photographer | Ryan Memarzadeh |
| Volunteer Coordinator/House Manager | Catherine Mazhandu |
| Marketing/Graphics | Kaitlyn Bell |
| Fight Director | Nick Van Burek |
| Scene Painters | Miranda Hews, Adriel Kuepfer |
| Prosthetics | Anthony Veilleux |
IF YOU GO:
What: Theatre Aezir presents The Shark Is Broken.
When: April 9 to April 19, 2026.
Where: First Baptist Church, 568 Richmond Street, London, ON.
Tickets: For more information and tickets, visit http://www.theatreaezir.com
Follow Theatre Aezir on Facebook and Instagram.
Q&A Interview conducted by Richard Young, The Beat Magazine’s Publisher & Content Manager.
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