Category: Review

The Shark Is Broken is making a big splash in the theatre world and its UK tour has now brought it to Birmingham.

This behind-the-scenes West End and Broadway smash hit comedy about the making of the iconic Steven Spielberg movie Jaws which celebrates its movie’s 50^th anniversary this year.

Now a critically acclaimed Olivier award-nominated play in its own right, it is inspired by actor Robert Shaw’s experience playing ‘Quint’ – and played by his son Ian Shaw, who is also co-writer.

The result is a brilliantly funny play which peeks at the choppy waters behind Hollywood’s first blockbuster and imagines what happened on board ‘The Orca’ when the cameras stopped rolling during the filming of the movie.

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.

It is a depiction of how the three, all from very different acting backgrounds, co-exist while dealing with the challenges of an extended shoot, from boredom and drinking, to playing shove ha’penny and crossed words. In fact, the roles and relationships soon mirror those of the characters in the film, with Scheider doing his best to play peace keeper between the domineering Shaw and the ambitious up-and-coming young actor Dreyfuss.

Martha Geelan directs the tour of The Shark Is Broken, based on original direction by Guy Masterson, set and costume design by Duncan Henderson, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Adam Cork, video design by Nina Dunn. Assistant director Molly Stacey, associate sound designer James Melling.

An excellent and endearing 90 minutes of theatre – especially knowing how personal it is to its co-writer. But, in my opinion, it only works for those who have seen – and enjoyed – the film. But surely that must be most of the population!

The Shark Is broken plays at Birmingham Repertory Theatre until Saturday. Tickets available from the box office HERE.

It’s true, we eat with our eyes.

And there’s much to see when it comes to dining at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre’s Rooftop Restaurant – from the plates of food themselves to drinking in the scenic window views – arguably the best in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Relaxed fine dining is the vibe here with a cool industrial chic setting the scene for your culinary experience. RSC posters plaster the stripped back bare brick walls to momentarily distract from the sweeping River Avon.

Perched atop the RSC Theatre, this gem of a restaurant wraps neatly around the circular auditorium and is the perfect choice for building up an appetite for Shakespeare. Indeed that’s what we did and the themed cocktail menu to celebrate the current run of Much Ado About Nothing, was a fun opening act to our evening.

The Rooftop Restaurant is open daily from 10am for tea and coffee, and 11.30am for dining, whether for lunch, dinner, Sunday lunch or, as we experienced it, pre-theatre dining, available on show days.

The set menu option is always to be welcomed and represents good value at two courses for £29.95 and three courses for £35.95. And it’s a crowd pleaser too with something for all palates.

I went for the Tartlet of Creamed Leeks baked with Caerphilly cheese, hollandaise sauce, rocket & spinach starter while hubby polished off the Chicken & Apricot Terrine, with spiced pear chutney and crispbread.

Other options included Wild Mushroom Veloute, truffle oil and chives, served with sourdough; Harissa Cauliflower Fritters, chickpea & pomegranate salad, red pepper and hummus, chimichurri dressing; and Cajun Marinated Potted Shrimps with cream cheese topped with dill butter and served with ciabatta crostini.

The second act certainly didn’t disappoint, from my Beef Feather Blade braised in a rich red wine sauce with olive oil mash, buttered carrot and savoy cabbage – to hubby’s Red Bream Fillet, garden peas, green beans, new potatoes and chive butter sauce.

Other options included Vegan Shrimps with basmati rice, kimchi, roasted celeriac, crispy kale, lemon and green herb oil; coq au vin –Slow-Cooked Chicken with pearl onions, mushrooms and pancetta in a rich red wine sauce with creamed celeriac, cavolo nero crisp; and Slow-Cooked Pork Belly, saffron fondant potato, piccolo parsnips, garden peas, cider & apple puree and sage jus.

A selection of Sides, from Truffled Mac & Cheese and – the ever-popular – Chunky Chips with Maldon Sea Salt, are also available.

The food was too tasty to not leave room for an encore and the spotlight quickly drew me to my favourite sweet treat – Apple and Blackberry Crumble, but, as is the theme, served to its own script – in a filo basket with oat crumb and vanilla custard.

Gently encouraged by the manager though to try something other than one of his go-tos, Warm Golden Syrup Sponge Pudding, hubby took a punt instead on the Amarena Cherry & Dark Chocolate Tart with black cherries, plant-based Chantilly cream. He later agreed it had been a culinary risk well worth taking and proved to be the perfect epilogue to his pre-theatre feast.

I will definitely be returning to the RSC Rooftop Restaurant – and have my eye on one of their Cocktail Masterclasses, available every Friday from 8pm, in the rooftop Cocktail Bar.

With standout service and menus, this restaurant is one of the top dining choices in Bard’s famous town, but especially if you’re looking to life the curtain on your RSC theatre experience -in true style.

Visit HERE.