Watch me in character or listen to my voice work by clicking on the appropriate menu option above.
Personal information, and a downloadable copy of my photo and CV can be found in Key Info. A selection of photographs of me in character and in person can be found in the Gallery, together with a showreel of extracts of my film work.
*You will need Apple's Quicktime Player to play the video.
Click here if you need to install this programme.
Acting Agent
c/o Elinor Hilton
Elinor Hilton Associates
1 Goodwin's Court
London, WC2N 4LL
c/o Elinor Hilton
Elinor Hilton Associates
1 Goodwin's Court
London, WC2N 4LL
t: +44 (0) 20 7240 2555
f: +44 (0) 20 7836 3982
Voice Agent
c/o Jane Savage
Calypso Voices
25 Poland Street
London, W1V 3DB
c/o Jane Savage
Calypso Voices
25 Poland Street
London, W1V 3DB
t: +44 (0) 20 7734 6415
f: +44 (0) 20 7437 0410
Literary Agent
c/o Cathryn Summerhayes
William Morris Endeavour Entertainment
Centre Point
103 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1DD
c/o Cathryn Summerhayes
William Morris Endeavour Entertainment
Centre Point
103 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1DD
t: +44 (0) 20 7534 6800
f: +44 (0) 20 7534 6900
July, 2010
To Austria, to play Edgar in King Lear in a castle for a couple of weeks...!
I'll post updates and photos from rehearsals and the show on my Twitter account...
To Austria, to play Edgar in King Lear in a castle for a couple of weeks...!
I'll post updates and photos from rehearsals and the show on my Twitter account...
June 7th, 2010
Shooting starts on a fantastic short(ish) film I'm acting in for Kevin Curtis (director of Hero). It's being shot by Adam Etherington, the DOP from James Sharpe's Notes.
Shooting starts on a fantastic short(ish) film I'm acting in for Kevin Curtis (director of Hero). It's being shot by Adam Etherington, the DOP from James Sharpe's Notes.
June 6th, 2010
Proofs are in for my new book, Sorry, I'm British. Co-written with Adam Russ, it'll be out in October 2010, published by OneWorld Publications - it's looking beautiful...
Proofs are in for my new book, Sorry, I'm British. Co-written with Adam Russ, it'll be out in October 2010, published by OneWorld Publications - it's looking beautiful...
June 4th, 2010
Acted in a new short film for Kevin Curtis (director of Hero), La Chasse - my first French-speaking role. Very nouvelle vague, slightly bonkers.
Acted in a new short film for Kevin Curtis (director of Hero), La Chasse - my first French-speaking role. Very nouvelle vague, slightly bonkers.
June 2nd, 2010
Day-trip to Bratislava, to record a voice-over for the Istropolitana Student Festival. You can watch it here...
Day-trip to Bratislava, to record a voice-over for the Istropolitana Student Festival. You can watch it here...
May 17th, 2010
Spent the week giving three Shakespeare talks in three cities in three days, for Macmillan Poland, and their new Global course. Gdansk, Warszawa & Krakow, wonderful trip!
Video clips of the talks can be seen here:
Discussing the difference between performing Shakespeare in RP vs OP (Shakespeare's accent)
Performing Sonnet 116 in RP, and OP
And then (reading from the opening chapter of Shakespeare on Toast), Schwarzengger's Hamlet...
Spent the week giving three Shakespeare talks in three cities in three days, for Macmillan Poland, and their new Global course. Gdansk, Warszawa & Krakow, wonderful trip!
Video clips of the talks can be seen here:
Discussing the difference between performing Shakespeare in RP vs OP (Shakespeare's accent)
Performing Sonnet 116 in RP, and OP
And then (reading from the opening chapter of Shakespeare on Toast), Schwarzengger's Hamlet...
May 15th, 2010
Notes, the short film I acted in late last year, is finally finished, and looks fantastic! Shot by Adam Etherington, and directed by James Sharpe, there are stills of the film on both their sites.
Notes, the short film I acted in late last year, is finally finished, and looks fantastic! Shot by Adam Etherington, and directed by James Sharpe, there are stills of the film on both their sites.
April 2010
Giving a reading at the Liar's League, Tuesday April 13th, at 7.30pm, Downstairs at The Phoenix...
Giving a reading at the Liar's League, Tuesday April 13th, at 7.30pm, Downstairs at The Phoenix...
February, 2010
A month of running workshops, talks, and finishing my new book, Sorry, I'm British. Co-written with Adam Russ, it'll be out in October, published by OneWorld Publications.
A month of running workshops, talks, and finishing my new book, Sorry, I'm British. Co-written with Adam Russ, it'll be out in October, published by OneWorld Publications.
January, 2010
A month in India, running workshops on Acting Shakespeare for professional actors, in Kolkata and Pune... Courtesy of the British Council.
A month in India, running workshops on Acting Shakespeare for professional actors, in Kolkata and Pune... Courtesy of the British Council.
December 9th, 2009
Reviews for the revival of Anthony Neilson's The Night Before Christmas that I'm acting in, have just come out:
'...funny, earthy and sprinkled with a little dose of magic' - The Stage
*** 'brisk & enjoyable' - Time Out
A very fun, very silly, not-for-children 1hr comedy, playing at the Hen & Chickens theatre until the 19th December, at 9.30pm...
Come one, come all...
Reviews for the revival of Anthony Neilson's The Night Before Christmas that I'm acting in, have just come out:
'...funny, earthy and sprinkled with a little dose of magic' - The Stage
*** 'brisk & enjoyable' - Time Out
A very fun, very silly, not-for-children 1hr comedy, playing at the Hen & Chickens theatre until the 19th December, at 9.30pm...
Come one, come all...
December 1st, 2009
Performances begin today for the next play I'm acting in: a revival of Anthony Neilson's The Night Before Christmas!
A very fun, very silly, not-for-children 1hr comedy, playing at the Hen & Chickens theatre, 1st-19th December at 9.30pm...
Click here for the Facebook Group Event Page, and you can follow me and how the show's doing on Twitter...
Come one, come all...
Performances begin today for the next play I'm acting in: a revival of Anthony Neilson's The Night Before Christmas!
A very fun, very silly, not-for-children 1hr comedy, playing at the Hen & Chickens theatre, 1st-19th December at 9.30pm...
Click here for the Facebook Group Event Page, and you can follow me and how the show's doing on Twitter...
Come one, come all...
November 12th, 2009
The play I've produced, Gilbert is Dead, has opened and been very well received!
It's playing at one of London's last Victorian music halls, Hoxton Hall, 4th-29th November... Click here to see some production stills.
Come one, come all...
The play I've produced, Gilbert is Dead, has opened and been very well received!
'a fantastical flavour of Victoriana' (The Times)
'stylistic...alternating between parody and dark gothic tragedy' (Time Out)
'startling design in one of the most magical rediscovered venues in London, a perfect galleried music hall in a buzzing neighbourhood' (What's On Stage)
It's playing at one of London's last Victorian music halls, Hoxton Hall, 4th-29th November... Click here to see some production stills.
Come one, come all...
October 21st, 2009
Toast talk at the Well's Festival of Literature 12.30pm tomorrow (October 22nd) at the Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset... Come one, come all...
Follow this link for more details...
Toast talk at the Well's Festival of Literature 12.30pm tomorrow (October 22nd) at the Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset... Come one, come all...
Follow this link for more details...
October 18th, 2009
Finishing a book I'm writing with Adam Russ for OneWorld (Autumn 2010), off to Manchester tomorrow to give a workshop for Akala's Hip-hop Shakespeare Company production Othello Retold, then back to London to carry on producing Gilbert is Dead and tie up the script Methuen are publishing for it, then to the Wells Festival of Literature on Thursday to give a talk on Toast.
Gilbert is Dead will be playing at one of London's last Victorian music halls, Hoxton Hall, 4th-29th November...
Then to the Hen & Chickens in December to act in a revival of Anthony Neilson's The Night Before Christmas...
Follow me on Twitter...
Finishing a book I'm writing with Adam Russ for OneWorld (Autumn 2010), off to Manchester tomorrow to give a workshop for Akala's Hip-hop Shakespeare Company production Othello Retold, then back to London to carry on producing Gilbert is Dead and tie up the script Methuen are publishing for it, then to the Wells Festival of Literature on Thursday to give a talk on Toast.
Gilbert is Dead will be playing at one of London's last Victorian music halls, Hoxton Hall, 4th-29th November...
Then to the Hen & Chickens in December to act in a revival of Anthony Neilson's The Night Before Christmas...
Follow me on Twitter...
October 5th, 2009
Rehearsals began today for the second show I'm producing for my theatre company shiningman. The new play Gilbert is Dead by Robin French will be playing at one of London's last Victorian music halls, Hoxton Hall, 4th-29th November. Follow the rehearsals, book - and win! - tickets, at www.gilbertisdead.co.uk and http://twitter.com/Gilbert_Shirley
Rehearsals began today for the second show I'm producing for my theatre company shiningman. The new play Gilbert is Dead by Robin French will be playing at one of London's last Victorian music halls, Hoxton Hall, 4th-29th November. Follow the rehearsals, book - and win! - tickets, at www.gilbertisdead.co.uk and http://twitter.com/Gilbert_Shirley
September 8th, 2009
Narrated a new short story at the Liar's League @ The Wheatsheaf, this one a beautiful fairy tale with a twist, called The King's Computer, for this month's theme Decline and Fall.
Narrated a new short story at the Liar's League @ The Wheatsheaf, this one a beautiful fairy tale with a twist, called The King's Computer, for this month's theme Decline and Fall.
September 2nd, 2009
Shooting Koroshiya Films' short film 'Notes'. Director James Sharpe's website here...
Shooting Koroshiya Films' short film 'Notes'. Director James Sharpe's website here...
August 11th, 2009
Narrated the trailer trash character in Anthony Malone's short story 'Michael Jackson Stole My Career', at the Liars League. Click here to listen.
Narrated the trailer trash character in Anthony Malone's short story 'Michael Jackson Stole My Career', at the Liars League. Click here to listen.
July 24th, 2009
Recorded the lead role for The Chinese Room's new First Person computer game, Korsokovia. See here for more.
Recorded the lead role for The Chinese Room's new First Person computer game, Korsokovia. See here for more.
June 10th, 2009
You can listen to the clip of my interview this morning on Midweek for BBC Radio 4 by clicking here...
You can listen to the clip of my interview this morning on Midweek for BBC Radio 4 by clicking here...
June 9th, 2009
The paperback of Shakespeare on Toast came out last week, and tomorrow I'll be interviewed on Midweek, BBC Radio 4, by Libby Purves, with Philip Mould, Baluji Shrivastav, and Stefanie Marsh... The show will be repeated at 9.30pm...
Head to www.shakespeareontoast.com for more details...
The paperback of Shakespeare on Toast came out last week, and tomorrow I'll be interviewed on Midweek, BBC Radio 4, by Libby Purves, with Philip Mould, Baluji Shrivastav, and Stefanie Marsh... The show will be repeated at 9.30pm...
Head to www.shakespeareontoast.com for more details...
May 22nd, 2009
Paperback of Shakespeare on Toast publishes this week, and I'll be speaking in London at the Notting Hill Waterstones, and the Guardian Hay-on-Wye Literature Festival...
Head to www.shakespeareontoast.com for more details...
Paperback of Shakespeare on Toast publishes this week, and I'll be speaking in London at the Notting Hill Waterstones, and the Guardian Hay-on-Wye Literature Festival...
Head to www.shakespeareontoast.com for more details...
May 19th, 2009
Performed as part of the the Liar's League @ Proud Galleries...
Performed as part of the the Liar's League @ Proud Galleries...
April 23rd, 2009
Appearing on CNN's Connect the World With Becky Anderson in celebration ofShakespeare's birthday.
You can see the clip here - Happy Birthday Will!
Appearing on CNN's Connect the World With Becky Anderson in celebration ofShakespeare's birthday.
You can see the clip here - Happy Birthday Will!
February 27th, 2009
Toast and I featured in Katy Guest's The Week in Books in last Friday's Independent:
Toast and I featured in Katy Guest's The Week in Books in last Friday's Independent:
Crystal tries his damnedest as an actor, scholar and Shakespeare's biggest fan to demystify the Bard for doubting 21st-century theatre-phobics.Click here for the article in full...
February 7th, 2009
"When was the last time someone told you a story...?"
Performing for the Liar's League this Tuesday (Feb 10th), in their monthly evening of short story readings, this one Valentine-themed... See the Acting page for more...
"When was the last time someone told you a story...?"
Performing for the Liar's League this Tuesday (Feb 10th), in their monthly evening of short story readings, this one Valentine-themed... See the Acting page for more...
January 31st, 2009
The Guardian reviewed Shakespeare on Toast today, calling it "Excellent!" Click here for more...
The Guardian reviewed Shakespeare on Toast today, calling it "Excellent!" Click here for more...
October 25th, 2008
I know things have been a little silent over this way, but that's mainly because there's been an awful lot going over at www.shakespeareontoast.com. Both aural and visual joys to be found, as more reviews for Toast and a few interviews are now up.
One Minute finished to great acclaim at the end of September, and I was straight into the season of the literature festival, which has taken me round the country and will to Europe...
I know things have been a little silent over this way, but that's mainly because there's been an awful lot going over at www.shakespeareontoast.com. Both aural and visual joys to be found, as more reviews for Toast and a few interviews are now up.
One Minute finished to great acclaim at the end of September, and I was straight into the season of the literature festival, which has taken me round the country and will to Europe...
October 18th, 2008
Cold Snap, my latest performance for the Liar's League, is now up. Listen here...
Cold Snap, my latest performance for the Liar's League, is now up. Listen here...
September 9th, 2008
Shakespeare on Toast has published, and is now available in all good bookshops! Head to www.shakespeareontoast.com for more...
Shakespeare on Toast has published, and is now available in all good bookshops! Head to www.shakespeareontoast.com for more...
September 5th, 2008
One Minute has opened to tremendous notices! Head to www.oneminute2008.com for more...
One Minute has opened to tremendous notices! Head to www.oneminute2008.com for more...
August 25th, 2008
Ten days until One Minute opens at the Courtyard Theatre, London, and Shakespeare on Toast publishes everywhere... See Toast or Min for more...
Ten days until One Minute opens at the Courtyard Theatre, London, and Shakespeare on Toast publishes everywhere... See Toast or Min for more...
August 15th, 2008
Appearing at the Edinburgh Literature Festival, to talk about my new book, Shakespeare on Toast, though the event is already sold out. See here for more...
Appearing at the Edinburgh Literature Festival, to talk about my new book, Shakespeare on Toast, though the event is already sold out. See here for more...
August 4th, 2008
Started rehearsals for the first ever revival of Simon Stephens' One Minute. A beautiful elegy to an 11 year old girl disappearing in the middle of this strange, wonderful,lonely, beautiful-horrible city of London. See the show's website www.oneminute2008.com for more...
Started rehearsals for the first ever revival of Simon Stephens' One Minute. A beautiful elegy to an 11 year old girl disappearing in the middle of this strange, wonderful,lonely, beautiful-horrible city of London. See the show's website www.oneminute2008.com for more...
June 27th, 2008
Finished recording the unabridged audiobook of Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange. Horrowshow fun. A malenky clip is up here...
Finished recording the unabridged audiobook of Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange. Horrowshow fun. A malenky clip is up here...
June 1st, 2008
You Are Not Alone a rather chucklesome new 30 second short made with Kevin Curtis, now up on the Acting page...
You Are Not Alone a rather chucklesome new 30 second short made with Kevin Curtis, now up on the Acting page...
May 1st, 2008
"Shakespeare on Toast is a brilliantly enjoyable, light-hearted look at Shakespeare which dispels the myths and makes him accessible to all. I love it!"
Judi Dench
"Shakespeare on Toast is a brilliantly enjoyable, light-hearted look at Shakespeare which dispels the myths and makes him accessible to all. I love it!"
Judi Dench
April 30th, 2008
"Ben Crystal's excellent book is an ideal way to gain an understanding of why Shakespeare is so brilliant, and so enjoyable."
Sir Richard Eyre
"Ben Crystal's excellent book is an ideal way to gain an understanding of why Shakespeare is so brilliant, and so enjoyable."
Sir Richard Eyre
April 29th, 2008
Click and Hero the two short films I made with Kevin Curtis, are up at Cobravision - go search, watch, vote and comment here... They can also be seen on the Acting page...
Click and Hero the two short films I made with Kevin Curtis, are up at Cobravision - go search, watch, vote and comment here... They can also be seen on the Acting page...
April 25th, 2008
Finished the sell-out run of 5pm, No Particular Afternoon, a devised piece with the physical theatre company Likely Story. I played Alex, a soldier returning from war suffering from PTSD. We used some of the Greek myths as starting points for the characters, and Alex was a modern version of Hercules, who, like the mythological fellow, kills his wife and daughter. Nice, light piece then. See the Gallery for pics...
Finished the sell-out run of 5pm, No Particular Afternoon, a devised piece with the physical theatre company Likely Story. I played Alex, a soldier returning from war suffering from PTSD. We used some of the Greek myths as starting points for the characters, and Alex was a modern version of Hercules, who, like the mythological fellow, kills his wife and daughter. Nice, light piece then. See the Gallery for pics...
April 8th, 2008
Performed for the Liar's League for the second time, reading Peter LaChaise' Red. Clip here...
Performed for the Liar's League for the second time, reading Peter LaChaise' Red. Clip here...
March 26th, 2008
For those of you that do, there's now a Facebook Group for Shakespeare on Toast - Getting a Taste for the Bard. Search, join, and whether you love Shakespeare or hate him, let me hear from you...
For those of you that do, there's now a Facebook Group for Shakespeare on Toast - Getting a Taste for the Bard. Search, join, and whether you love Shakespeare or hate him, let me hear from you...
March 13th, 2008
Apologies for the hiatus in updates, it's been a rather busy couple of months... See below...
Apologies for the hiatus in updates, it's been a rather busy couple of months... See below...
March 13th, 2008
The biggest news I have on offer - and much of the reason for the recent hibernation - is that my first solo book, Shakespeare on Toast - Getting a Taste for the Bard, will be published by the incredibly nice people at Icon Books in September. Take a look at the Writing page for more; follow the links there to pre-order it from Amazon, to hit the book's website (which is being written as I type), or to watch a video I made for MeetTheAuthor.com, which features ME talking about exactly why the book is brilliant, and why it's so different from every other book on Shakespeare...
The biggest news I have on offer - and much of the reason for the recent hibernation - is that my first solo book, Shakespeare on Toast - Getting a Taste for the Bard, will be published by the incredibly nice people at Icon Books in September. Take a look at the Writing page for more; follow the links there to pre-order it from Amazon, to hit the book's website (which is being written as I type), or to watch a video I made for MeetTheAuthor.com, which features ME talking about exactly why the book is brilliant, and why it's so different from every other book on Shakespeare...
March 12th, 2008
Performed for the Liar's League monthly reading of new writing. Reading Emily Cleaver's The Frog. Clip here...
Performed for the Liar's League monthly reading of new writing. Reading Emily Cleaver's The Frog. Clip here...
March 11th, 2008
Narrated the upcoming (screening on the BBC in the early hours of April 1st / 8th) BBC Bitesize Key Stage 3 English revision programmes! I get to hold forth about Shakespeare AND teach the wee nippers. See the Voice page...
Narrated the upcoming (screening on the BBC in the early hours of April 1st / 8th) BBC Bitesize Key Stage 3 English revision programmes! I get to hold forth about Shakespeare AND teach the wee nippers. See the Voice page...
March 5th, 2008
Worked with the hugely talented Kevin Curtis, making two short films, Click and Hero. See them on the Acting page...
Worked with the hugely talented Kevin Curtis, making two short films, Click and Hero. See them on the Acting page...
February 26th, 2008
Recorded a TV advert for The Guardian newspaper's Guide to DIY. Click here to have a listen...
Recorded a TV advert for The Guardian newspaper's Guide to DIY. Click here to have a listen...
February 14th, 2008
Escaped the Valentine's madness, and find myself in Eindhoven, south Holland, to lecture student theatre technicians on how to get into Shakespeare... Obviously.
Escaped the Valentine's madness, and find myself in Eindhoven, south Holland, to lecture student theatre technicians on how to get into Shakespeare... Obviously.
December 2007 - January 2008
Hibernating in writer's garrett...
Hibernating in writer's garrett...
November 17th, 2007
Performed in two Beckett plays, Ohio Impromptu and Rough for Theatre 2, at the Capital Centre, Warwick, for Fail Better Productions. See Acting page...
Performed in two Beckett plays, Ohio Impromptu and Rough for Theatre 2, at the Capital Centre, Warwick, for Fail Better Productions. See Acting page...
November 4th, 2007
Having recorded the narration in Amsterdam for a rather lush-looking new documentary, Cymbalom Legacy (directed by Mano Amani) will be shown as part of the 2nd London Gypsy Film Festival, at the Ritzy Picture House, on Nov 4th at 6.30pm. Click here to listen to a clip of the narration, or see Mano's website for a teaser...
Having recorded the narration in Amsterdam for a rather lush-looking new documentary, Cymbalom Legacy (directed by Mano Amani) will be shown as part of the 2nd London Gypsy Film Festival, at the Ritzy Picture House, on Nov 4th at 6.30pm. Click here to listen to a clip of the narration, or see Mano's website for a teaser...
October 22nd 2007
A Speaking Shakespeare podcast, recorded after the 3rd British Shakespeare Association panel I spoke on (see below, August 31st), featuring a blast of Original Pronunciation from yours truly, is now online. Click here to listen...
A Speaking Shakespeare podcast, recorded after the 3rd British Shakespeare Association panel I spoke on (see below, August 31st), featuring a blast of Original Pronunciation from yours truly, is now online. Click here to listen...
October 7th 2007
Gallows Hill Inn, a radio play from the stable of Bunbury Banter and featuring the vocal talents of yours truly as The Traveller, will be aired Sunday 7th on 91.8 Hayes FM, and streamed live here. Air time within the 11:30-12:00pm slot...
Gallows Hill Inn, a radio play from the stable of Bunbury Banter and featuring the vocal talents of yours truly as The Traveller, will be aired Sunday 7th on 91.8 Hayes FM, and streamed live here. Air time within the 11:30-12:00pm slot...
September 25th 2007
Will Sutton, a very fine actor and equally fine friend, knows all 154 of Shakespeare's Sonnets off by heart. Check the Back To Aristotle entry on his also rather fine blog...
Will Sutton, a very fine actor and equally fine friend, knows all 154 of Shakespeare's Sonnets off by heart. Check the Back To Aristotle entry on his also rather fine blog...
September 14th 2007
Money, the first of the radio plays I recorded with Bunbury Banter, will be aired Sunday 16th on 91.8 Hayes FM, and streamed live here. Exact time tbc...
Money, the first of the radio plays I recorded with Bunbury Banter, will be aired Sunday 16th on 91.8 Hayes FM, and streamed live here. Exact time tbc...
August 31st 2007
Speaking at the British Shakespeare Association, on a panel on Speaking Shakespeare, together with RSC actor Patrice Naiambana, RSC actor Janet Dale, and the broadcaster & writer Paul Allen.
Speaking at the British Shakespeare Association, on a panel on Speaking Shakespeare, together with RSC actor Patrice Naiambana, RSC actor Janet Dale, and the broadcaster & writer Paul Allen.
August 30th 2007
Recorded a series of radio plays, with Bunbury Banter, a new radio drama company. The specially commissioned scripts were a mix of new and old folk tales, and used Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber and Grimm's Fairy Tales as a starting point. Details of airplay and some clips will follow shortly...
Recorded a series of radio plays, with Bunbury Banter, a new radio drama company. The specially commissioned scripts were a mix of new and old folk tales, and used Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber and Grimm's Fairy Tales as a starting point. Details of airplay and some clips will follow shortly...
August 21st 2007
Narrated the All About Elephants audiobook for the children's book series My Animal Kingdom, voicing the Elephant too. See Voice Page. I love my job.
Narrated the All About Elephants audiobook for the children's book series My Animal Kingdom, voicing the Elephant too. See Voice Page. I love my job.
August 17th 2007
Delving into the underworld, recorded the voice-dub for Rome Duomo, an Italian agent who was working undercover in the bust of the The Real Godfather, due to be aired September on BBC2, narrated by Steven Mackintosh. Air date to follow...
Delving into the underworld, recorded the voice-dub for Rome Duomo, an Italian agent who was working undercover in the bust of the The Real Godfather, due to be aired September on BBC2, narrated by Steven Mackintosh. Air date to follow...
July 24th 2007
It's 2am, and I've spent the last couple of hours in a circus tent 3 hours north of Vienna, somewhere in the south-east of the Czech Republic, reciting Shakespeare Sonnets in English to a crowd of over 200 Czechs, most of whom were under the age of 25 and all completely rapt. Electric atmosphere... Picture of me looking thoughtful before launching into one of the Sonnets, now on the Gallery...
It's 2am, and I've spent the last couple of hours in a circus tent 3 hours north of Vienna, somewhere in the south-east of the Czech Republic, reciting Shakespeare Sonnets in English to a crowd of over 200 Czechs, most of whom were under the age of 25 and all completely rapt. Electric atmosphere... Picture of me looking thoughtful before launching into one of the Sonnets, now on the Gallery...
July 18th 2007
Preparing to go to the Czech Summer Film School Festival to perform a selection of Shakespeare’s sonnets, and introduce the spectacular film Korol Lir (King Lear), by Korintsev. Where on earth is Uherské Hradište??
Preparing to go to the Czech Summer Film School Festival to perform a selection of Shakespeare’s sonnets, and introduce the spectacular film Korol Lir (King Lear), by Korintsev. Where on earth is Uherské Hradište??
June 23rd 2007
Finished the sell-out 3 week run of Caligula at the Union Theatre. See Gallery.
Finished the sell-out 3 week run of Caligula at the Union Theatre. See Gallery.
June 13th 2007
Caligula has opened with great success! Receiving Critics' Choice from Time Out, and great notices:
"Pride of place, though, has to be given to the interaction at the heart of the play between Caligula and his other-self, the poet Scipio (Ben Crystal), who watches over all. It is through the eyes of Scipio that we see Caligula's psychological torment, and Crystal's finely judged characterization manages to convey exactly the right mix of empathy and detachment. It is a part which requires a lot of reaction, and in his eyes we see Caligula's pain. The meeting of minds between these two is stunning. Great theatre."
posted on the New York Times website
Caligula has opened with great success! Receiving Critics' Choice from Time Out, and great notices:
"Pride of place, though, has to be given to the interaction at the heart of the play between Caligula and his other-self, the poet Scipio (Ben Crystal), who watches over all. It is through the eyes of Scipio that we see Caligula's psychological torment, and Crystal's finely judged characterization manages to convey exactly the right mix of empathy and detachment. It is a part which requires a lot of reaction, and in his eyes we see Caligula's pain. The meeting of minds between these two is stunning. Great theatre."
posted on the New York Times website
