JOHN PENDAL - BIOGRAPHY
Moment of my IML win in May 2003 (Photo by Dave Harris)
In 2003 I won the 25th International Mr Leather contest in Chicago, (the only Briton ever to have won the title). That led to appearances all over the world giving speeches, leading workshops and hosting fundraisers, talent shows and leather contests.
I really enjoyed the feeling of helping people, so in 2010 I became a stand-up comic to try and spread happiness through laughter. Over the next decade I performed 1,300 gigs at comedy clubs and theatres across the UK from Falmouth to Edinburgh, as well as solo shows in Atlanta, Bergen, Budapest, Chicago, Cleveland, Denmark, Denver, Edmonton (Canada), Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, Oslo, Rome and West Palm Beach. Corporate/ festival work included BearScotFest (Edinburgh), The Big Weekend (Cambridge), Darklands (Antwerp), Folsom Europe (Berlin) and the National LGBT Police Conference (Manchester). I was also the MC for Mr Chicago Leather every year from 2004-2020 & 2022 and co-hosted International Mr Leather in 2012.
Photo by Gaz de Vere
I reached the finals of two national comedy competitions: Laughing Horse New Act of the Year 2015 and Old Comedian of the Year 2016.
In March 2020 lockdown hit and all my live work was cancelled. My last comedy show was about mental health and as a result people began to get in touch about private coaching. I completed a diploma with Animas Centre for Coaching and two courses in First Aid for Mental Health. I'm now working with private clients and as an associate coach with Thriving Autistic.
Qualifications & Memberships
Accredited coach with Animas Centre for Coaching
FAA Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health
FAA Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health.
Associate coach with Thriving Autistic
Member of the International Coaching Federation
FAA Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health
FAA Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health.
Associate coach with Thriving Autistic
Member of the International Coaching Federation
If you would like to contact me please fill in the form here.
"MONSTER"
Poster by Steve Ullathorne
"Monster" was my last touring show as a stand-up comedian. It received 4 five star reviews at the Edinburgh festival and went on to tour Atlanta, Bergen (Norway), Brighton, Leicester, London , Manchester, Watford, West Palm Beach (Florida) and York. Then lockdown hit in March 2020 and all remaining live dates were cancelled.
In a weird way the show led me to becoming a life coach, as it covered mental health, shame, guilt and self esteem. It feels like a natural evolution from this show to my new career.
★★★★★ "fabulous show" - Voice Magazine
★★★★★ "deeply moving" - The Wee Review
★★★★★ "indelible triumph" - Broadway Baby
★★★★★ "comedy masterpiece" - Feminist Fringe Reviews
You can watch the full version of "Monster" here - recorded pre-lockdown - online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsZAXNkrwII (18+ age restriction due to content).
More info: www.johnpendal.com/monster.html
In a weird way the show led me to becoming a life coach, as it covered mental health, shame, guilt and self esteem. It feels like a natural evolution from this show to my new career.
★★★★★ "fabulous show" - Voice Magazine
★★★★★ "deeply moving" - The Wee Review
★★★★★ "indelible triumph" - Broadway Baby
★★★★★ "comedy masterpiece" - Feminist Fringe Reviews
You can watch the full version of "Monster" here - recorded pre-lockdown - online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsZAXNkrwII (18+ age restriction due to content).
More info: www.johnpendal.com/monster.html