The play, inspired by true stories, looks at three young offenders who are due to become fathers while in prison. As Cain, Riyad and Jonjo embark on parenting classes under the instruction of Grace, their different histories slowly emerge and their different futures take shape. Both funny and poignant, Shook examines the young people society shuts away.  

The film of the production is in English and includes captions in English

Shook won the 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize, was produced by Papatango to critical acclaim at Southwark Playhouse in London and then sold out on tour across England and Wales. It won Samuel Bailey The Times Breakthrough Award at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards and is currently nominated for The Writer’s Guild of Great Britain’s Award for Best New Play.  

The production was due to transfer to the West End when the pandemic hit. Instead, it was filmed featuring the original cast, directed once again by Papatango’s Artistic Director George Turvey, this time in collaboration with BAFTA-winning and multi-Emmy-nominated screen director James Bobin.