Cal mcchrystal biography of martin
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This point marks the beginning of a watershed in my career.
ENO's HMS PINAFORE Returns With Guest Star Mel Giedroyc
by Stephi Wild - Nov 10, 2025
English National Opera's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's nautical love triangle-themed opera HMS Pinafore returns to the London Coliseum this winter for its first revival, with a major guest star headlining the cast, Mel Giedroyc.
I pulled out my notebook over a hundred times and came away, more often not, with a happy heart. Philippe asked me to perform in his clown show, The End Of The Tunnel, one that has some painful memories for cast and audience alike. In fact, I said to Ross, “Why are we doing this show year-round? I found a very like-minded soul in my new mentor and enjoyed the work profoundly.
He’s great.
Interviewer
Are you also going to be involved with the Superfrico restaurant located within The Hook venue?
Cal McCrystal
Of course. Yes. But I try to keep the narrative and the comedy unplanned and make that up in the room with everyone.
Giffords Circus Will Celebrate Its 25th Anniversary Year With A New Show From Director Cal McCrystal
by A.A.
Cristi - Mar 12, 2025
Giffords Circus will celebrate its 25th anniversary year with Laguna Bay with a new show from acclaimed director Cal McCrystal, featuring the return of Tweedy the Clown. If there’s one last thing you want to tell people about what’s coming, what would it be?
Cal McCrystal
The last thing I would tell people is; when you watch the show, you won’t be able to breathe from gasping or laughing.
Cal McCrystal
BIO
Cal McCrystal has directed extensively in theatre, TV, film and radio around the world.
But before that, I’d been doing a lot of small-scale clown-type shows, positioning myself on the spearhead of the physical comedy movement in the UK. Funny enough, I started getting asked to do operas because everybody likes funny, and it sells. But also, people’s circus skills only form part of what they will perform in the show.
When we created Atomic Saloon Show, Jerome was hired as our straps artist, and Alina was our pole artist with whom I’d worked before.
But again out of adversity… By good fortune, I met my partner Matt, a film journalist, at a dinner party I would have been unable to attend had the show been a success. My involvement with this show opened up new opportunities as a comedy consultant for the film industry. The numbers I created with clowns Claudio Carneiro and Mooky Cornish were a hit with audiences and I was asked to return to Cirque the following year as Comedy Director of Zumanity, the new erotic cabaret at the New York New York Resort Hotel in Las Vegas.
Why don’t you tell us about your journey till this point?
Cal McCrystal
Well, I’m Irish.
Review: GIFFORDS CIRCUS: AVALON, Chiswick House and Gardens
by Kat Mokrynski - Jun 15, 2024
Written and Directed by Cal McCrystal, Avalon is the 2024 show for Giffords Circus, a village-green travelling circus that follows the belief of ther founder, Nell Giffords, that “Art is Love.” The tents and caravans feel as though they have been pulled from a classic movie.
My interest in performing otherwise had been nurtured by the drama teacher, Helen Woodhouse, during this time, and it was with a sure ambition to become an actor that I left school to enrol in a catering course at Southgate College. Because I’m always thinking, what’s funny about this person? We opened to huge hype at the Assembly Rooms for the 1991 Edinburgh Festival.
The reviews were so excruciating for this Australian clown piece that we closed after four performances (much to my relief). I couldn’t see myself working in Vegas or Atlantic City if I was still an actor.
I love my job, but I also like it if a film director says to me, “We want to give you a small role in this movie.