EDINBURGH 2018: BWW Q&A- John Pendal
By: Natalie O'Donoghue Aug. 14, 2018
BWW catches up with John Pendal to chat about bringing We Are Family to the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Tell us a bit about "We Are Family"
It's a stand-up comedy show where I look into my family tree to try and answer some of the big questions in life, such as "is it possible to get along with your Dad after Brexit?" There are some great stories from the past mixed in with modern day frustrations about getting along with my parents, as well as some awful childhood photos. There's something for everyone.
What inspired you to write the show?
With the rise of Brexit and Trump it seems as if the world has divided into tribes of people who aren't getting along. We've lost the middle ground. This show looks into the past to see if there are any answers for the future. Also my Dad is 88 this year, so I thought it was time to ask him what he knew about our ancestry.
What sort of things did you find when you looked into your family tree?
My Dad's plotted the Pendal tree back to 1663 so there was a lot to choose from, but I've narrowed it down to three mutinies in the 1800s, an arsonist in the 1900s and autism in the 2000s.
Who would you recommend comes to see "We Are Family"?
Anyone who's anxious at the current state of the world ... or finds that their family sometimes annoys them! Audiences have responded really well to the previews, saying it's both stand-up and family therapy for them.
Are there any other shows you're hoping to catch in Edinburgh?
I go to see Jen Brister every time I can, so I'm really looking forward to seeing her new show at Monkey Barrel 1.45pm.
Also Colin Hoult plays an aging actress called "Anna Mann" and she makes my sides ache from laughing. Anna is at the Pleasance Courtyard for five nights at 11pm.
Both shows highly recommended.
John Pendal: We Are Family is every day from 1 to 28 Aug (not 13) @ 5.30-6.30pm at Gilded Balloon Teviot - Sportsmans, 13 Bristo Square, EH8 9AJ
Tickets available from https://gildedballoon.co.uk/programme/performances.php?eventId=14:2374
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