Cal was born in Belfast. Working for many years as an actor, he trained at RSAMD and with Philippe Gaulier. He was Comedy Director for the National Theatre's award-winning West End and Broadway hit One Man, Two Guvnors and the RSC’s Don Quixote, which transferred to the West End. He directed the acclaimed Iolanthe for English National Opera in 2017.
Cal created the clown routines in Varekai and Zumanity for Cirque du Soleil and directed Opium at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas and Atomic Saloon Show at The Venetian Las Vegas. He is about to direct Drama At Inish at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
Cal regularly directs in British Repertory and has created countless international touring shows for comedy troupes such as Spymonkey, Peepolykus, and The Mighty Boosh. Cal works recurrently as a comedy consultant for the film industry. Titles include The Dictator, The World's End, Man Up, The Nice Guys, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Paddington 1 & 2 (in which he also appears as Sir Geoffrey Wilcott), Dora The Explorer and the forthcoming Cats movie.
Since 2012 Cal has been director of Giffords Circus creating a new show for them each year.
www.calmccrystal.com @calmccrystal