A true story from the 1930s is brought to life in Deadhouse Production’s immersive theatre show Shark Arm Case.

Based on a murder mystery from Sydney’s criminal underworld, audiences are led through the investigation, from discovery to police interrogation and the courtroom drama. The saga is brilliantly recreated, allowing theatregoers to deep dive into one of Australia’s most bizarre unsolved crimes.

The strange tale stems from Anzac Day, 1935, when a shark in the Coogee Aquarium vomited up a human arm bearing a distinctive tattoo. Investigators identified the arm as belonging to Jim Smith, a small-time crook turned police informant, who had been missing for three weeks. What looked like an open-and-shut case of a tragic shark attack took a sinister turn when examiners found the limb had been severed by an axe.

Written by Kyla Lee Ward, who also acts as the play’s candy-striped narrator, the performance takes place in the Justice & Police Museum. Not only is this an opportunity to step back in time and observe criminal proceedings, but viewers are guided through various rooms in the 170-year-old historic building. The atmospheric setting heightens the mood of unease and offers a rare opportunity to explore the institution—from the heritage Water Police Court with its magistrate’s bench to the Police Court and Charge Rooms. Participants can even sit in the reporter/jury box, or the barred prisoner’s dock.

As the investigation unravels, a cast of intriguing characters emerges: Detective Sergeant Frank Matthews (Mark Stokes), underworld figure Reg Holms (Barret Griffin), and the wives of key suspects, played by Karli Evans and Roz Hicks. Most of the cast also take on multiple roles.

Marisa Newnes’ costume design firmly anchors the narrative in the 1930s; lighting designer Kyle Stephens uses shadows and darkness to build tension; and the video staging of the regurgitating shark brings a flash of comedy to the cleverly constructed piece.

Much like Alfred Hitchcock, who relished manipulating his viewers emotions, this production pulls viewers directly into the drama: police photos are shown, the question ‘have you seen this man?’ is posed and audiences are often confronted at eye-level with actors just an arm’s reach away.

The production is gripping from start to finish, blending immersive storytelling with live theatre. A tale of smuggling, insurance fraud, corruption—and murder—it captivated international media at the time and remains just as enthralling today.

4 stars

Run time: 1 hour (no interval)

Playing now at Justice & Police Museum Sydney until 30 August 2025. 

Shark Arm Case is a Deadhouse and Museums of History NSW co-production.

For tickets visit Museums of History NSW or Eventbrite

Looking for post-show nibbles? Bar Besuto is located close by. For more suggestions, check out Bites & Sips.

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