Review: Jaws For Kids!

**Picture**: A willing victim meeting the shark in *Jaws: For Kids!* (*image credit: Creative Futures Photography*)

Act React is an experienced team of comedy geniuses who have a reputation for successfully reinterpreting and representing well-loved blockbuster films, with a repertoire that includes Speed: The Movie, The Play, and Titanic: The Movie The Play. I’m delighted that they have now focused their pop culture lens onto the classic Jaws movie.

A 1975 thriller adventure film that had audiences screaming in their seats might not appear to be a logical fit for a kid’s show. However, Ellie Hardisty (Kurt) and Natalie Bochenski (Bernie) have certainly worked their magic to create a memorable 45-minute show that’s perfect for kids and for their accompanying adults. And at only $10 a ticket, ‘unaccompanied ‘adults who remember the original film (yep, that’s me) greatly enjoyed seeing their first horror film reimagined as environmentally friendly, educational, and all round fun.

From the moment the doors open, the audience participation is spot-on, with a great soundtrack, and lots of engagement and fun. The improvised comedy and children’s entertainment skills of the team shines through.

During the show everyone in the audience is invited to take part in an entertaining shark hunt, and in the bonding ‘sea shanty’ dance. Bochenski and Hardisty play the key roles, organise the set and props, and keep the tale on track. Children are invited to sit at the front of the audience, and there are plenty of opportunities for the very willing volunteers to step up and take on key roles that include the Mayor and Fisherman Quint. Parents were also able to participate—including the memorable work by two Dads who were ‘transformed’ into Chief Martin Brody’s wife and son… it is amazing what a pinny, blond wig, and kids’ hat can achieve!

If you have never seen the original Jaws film, don’t worry. By the end of Jaws: For Kids! you will have a good idea of the key plot points—although you may then need to dash home and stream the original just to see how closely Bochenski and Hardisty present the story. You will also pick up a lot of ‘fun facts’(ting) about the importance of sharks and keeping water safe. Not every one of Bochenski’s fun facts (ting) is likely to appear in any exams, but telling the audience that ‘sharks don’t have to brush their teeth’ is certainly a good way of remembering sharks can regrow any teeth than they lose.

Catch the world premiere season of Jaws: For Kids! in the Moreton Bay Anywhere Festival if you can. The final two shows are at The Hills District Community Centre (17 May), and North Lakes Community Centre (18 May)—both unbelievably good value at just $10 a ticket. Jaws: For Kids! is highly recommended as a really entertaining show for adults and kids (probably kids aged 0-11). You will come away with a raft of ‘fun facts’(ting) about the importance of sharks, a respect for talented kid’s entertainers, and a smile on your face. You might also just come away with a Baby Shark earworm, and kids that will be asking to come back and see the show all over again. Here’s hoping that the Act React team bring Jaws: For Kids! to wider audiences soon, as they have another hit on their hands.

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture (L to R)**: The excellent *Jaws: For Kids!* stars, Act React’s Natalie Bochenski and Ellie Hardisty (*image credit: Creative Futures Photography*).

Audience information: Jaws:For Kids! is at three locations (all 11:30am performances): Deception Bay Community Hall, 2 Raymond Terrace, Deception Bay (10 May), The Hills District Community Centre 291 Dawson Parade, Arana Hills (17 May), and North Lakes Community Centre 10 The Corso, North Lakes (18 May). Rated G, with some shark references (reviewer recommendation kids age 0-11). 45 minutes, no interval. Tickets $10 plus $4.40 booking fee.

The reviewer attended the 10 May 2025 11:30am show.

Geoff Lawrence