David Pendlebury - Revision history

LGBT-HP: Add inline citations: Lion King/JustGiving 2005, MAD Trust history page, UK Fundraising 2006 (Theatrecares), WhatsOnStage 2008 (TheatreMAD); add References/Reflist section

2026-07-20T13:36:03Z

Add inline citations: Lion King/JustGiving 2005, MAD Trust history page, UK Fundraising 2006 (Theatrecares), WhatsOnStage 2008 (TheatreMAD); add References/Reflist section

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:36, 20 July 2026
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	~~{{BLP unsourced\|date=July 2026}}~~
	'''David Pendlebury''' is a British actor, singer and charity leader who led the British theatre industry's HIV/AIDS fundraising organisations for 22 years — longer than any other single figure. He served successively as Chairman of [[West End Cares]] (1994–2003), Chairman of Theatrecares (2003–2008), and as co-founder, Chairman and Trustee of [[Make a Difference Trust]] (TheatreMAD) from its formal incorporation in 2008 until 2016. Over that period he conceived and produced some of the most successful LGBT fundraising events in British theatre history.		'''David Pendlebury''' is a British actor, singer and charity leader who led the British theatre industry's HIV/AIDS fundraising organisations for 22 years — longer than any other single figure. He served successively as Chairman of [[West End Cares]] (1994–2003), Chairman of Theatrecares (2003–2008), and as co-founder, Chairman and Trustee of [[Make a Difference Trust]] (TheatreMAD) from its formal incorporation in 2008 until 2016. Over that period he conceived and produced some of the most successful LGBT fundraising events in British theatre history.

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	*''Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary'' concert at the Royal Albert Hall		*''Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary'' concert at the Royal Albert Hall

	It was during the run of ''The Phantom of the Opera'' that Pendlebury worked alongside [[Dursley McLinden]], the actor whose life inspired the lead character in [[Russell T Davies]]'s drama ''[[It's a Sin]]'' and whose illness and death galvanised the West End community around HIV/AIDS fundraising.		It was during the run of ''The Phantom of the Opera'' that Pendlebury worked alongside [[Dursley McLinden]], the actor whose life inspired the lead character in [[Russell T Davies]]'s drama ''[[It's a Sin]]'' and whose illness and death galvanised the West End community around HIV/AIDS fundraising.<ref name="dp-jg2005">[https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/theatrecareslondonmarathon2005 "Antique kings on the run"], JustGiving fundraising page, 2005; describes Pendlebury as Theatrecares Chairman and as performing in Disney's The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre.</ref><ref name="dp-website">[https://www.davidpendlebury.info/ David Pendlebury – official website], davidpendlebury.info.</ref>

	Regional and touring credits include ''Chess'', ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', ''The Producers'', ''Sweeney Todd'', ''Sleeping Beauty'' and opera productions of ''Aida'' and ''Carmen''.		Regional and touring credits include ''Chess'', ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', ''The Producers'', ''Sweeney Todd'', ''Sleeping Beauty'' and opera productions of ''Aida'' and ''Carmen''.
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	===West End Cares (1994–2003)===		===West End Cares (1994–2003)===

	[[West End Cares]] had been founded in 1990 under the umbrella of Crusaid by Bob West, David Kernan and Geoffrey Henning, with [[Jill Nalder]] serving as inaugural chair, in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic devastating the theatre community. Pendlebury took over as Chairman in 1994 as the crisis was still at its height, and steered the organisation through the years of maximum loss in the theatre world and into the era of effective antiretroviral treatment.		[[West End Cares]] had been founded in 1990 under the umbrella of Crusaid by Bob West, David Kernan and Geoffrey Henning, with [[Jill Nalder]] serving as inaugural chair, in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic devastating the theatre community. Pendlebury took over as Chairman in 1994 as the crisis was still at its height, and steered the organisation through the years of maximum loss in the theatre world and into the era of effective antiretroviral treatment.<ref name="mad-about">[https://www.madtrust.org.uk/about-us/ About Us], Make A Difference Trust (MAD Trust); history of West End Cares, Theatrecares and Make a Difference Trust.</ref>

	===Theatrecares (2003–2008)===		===Theatrecares (2003–2008)===

	In 2003 Pendlebury led the renaming of West End Cares to Theatrecares, reflecting the organisation's expansion beyond London's West End to encompass the broader UK theatre community. He continued as Chairman throughout this period.		In 2003 Pendlebury led the renaming of West End Cares to Theatrecares, reflecting the organisation's expansion beyond London's West End to encompass the broader UK theatre community. He continued as Chairman throughout this period.<ref name="ukfr2006">[https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/08/07/theatrecares-appoints-former-bbc-head-casting-first-paid-employee/ "Theatrecares appoints former BBC Head of Casting as first paid employee"], UK Fundraising, 7 August 2006.</ref><ref name="dp-jg2005">[https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/theatrecareslondonmarathon2005 "Antique kings on the run"], JustGiving fundraising page, 2005; describes Pendlebury as Theatrecares Chairman and as performing in Disney's The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre.</ref>

	===Make a Difference Trust / TheatreMAD (2008–2016)===		===Make a Difference Trust / TheatreMAD (2008–2016)===
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	*'''Annual Theatre Bucket Collection Appeals'''		*'''Annual Theatre Bucket Collection Appeals'''

	By the time the Trust closed in 2021 — its theatre-based fundraising model made impossible by the COVID-19 pandemic — it had raised more than £14 million in total across its three incarnations, and distributed over £2.6 million in grants to UK and international HIV/AIDS projects.		By the time the Trust closed in 2021 — its theatre-based fundraising model made impossible by the COVID-19 pandemic — it had raised more than £14 million in total across its three incarnations, and distributed over £2.6 million in grants to UK and international HIV/AIDS projects.<ref name="mad-about">[https://www.madtrust.org.uk/about-us/ About Us], Make A Difference Trust (MAD Trust); history of West End Cares, Theatrecares and Make a Difference Trust.</ref><ref name="wos2008">[https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/galas-theatremads-west-end-eurovision-joys_19563/ "Galas: TheatreMAD's West End Eurovision & Joys"], WhatsOnStage, 7 May 2008.</ref>

			== References ==
			{{Reflist}}

	==See also==		==See also==

LGBT-HP: Add BLP unsourced notice – biography of living person with no inline citations; financial figures (£14m, £2.6m) and career claims need sourcing

2026-07-20T12:06:17Z

Add BLP unsourced notice – biography of living person with no inline citations; financial figures (£14m, £2.6m) and career claims need sourcing

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:06, 20 July 2026
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			{{BLP unsourced\|date=July 2026}}
	'''David Pendlebury''' is a British actor, singer and charity leader who led the British theatre industry's HIV/AIDS fundraising organisations for 22 years — longer than any other single figure. He served successively as Chairman of [[West End Cares]] (1994–2003), Chairman of Theatrecares (2003–2008), and as co-founder, Chairman and Trustee of [[Make a Difference Trust]] (TheatreMAD) from its formal incorporation in 2008 until 2016. Over that period he conceived and produced some of the most successful LGBT fundraising events in British theatre history.		'''David Pendlebury''' is a British actor, singer and charity leader who led the British theatre industry's HIV/AIDS fundraising organisations for 22 years — longer than any other single figure. He served successively as Chairman of [[West End Cares]] (1994–2003), Chairman of Theatrecares (2003–2008), and as co-founder, Chairman and Trustee of [[Make a Difference Trust]] (TheatreMAD) from its formal incorporation in 2008 until 2016. Over that period he conceived and produced some of the most successful LGBT fundraising events in British theatre history.

LGBT-HP: Add to Category:Actors

2026-07-20T09:20:02Z

Add to Category:Actors

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	*[[It's a Sin]]		*[[It's a Sin]]

			[[Category:Actors]]
	[[Category:Theatre]]		[[Category:Theatre]]
	[[Category:HIV/AIDS organisations]]		[[Category:HIV/AIDS organisations]]
	[[Category:Charities]]		[[Category:Charities]]

LGBT-HP: New article: David Pendlebury — actor and 22 years leading West End Cares, Theatrecares and TheatreMAD

2026-07-20T09:18:37Z

New article: David Pendlebury — actor and 22 years leading West End Cares, Theatrecares and TheatreMAD

New page

'''David Pendlebury''' is a British actor, singer and charity leader who led the British theatre industry's HIV/AIDS fundraising organisations for 22 years — longer than any other single figure. He served successively as Chairman of [[West End Cares]] (1994–2003), Chairman of Theatrecares (2003–2008), and as co-founder, Chairman and Trustee of [[Make a Difference Trust]] (TheatreMAD) from its formal incorporation in 2008 until 2016. Over that period he conceived and produced some of the most successful LGBT fundraising events in British theatre history.

==Background==

Pendlebury studied at Leicester University (BA Hons) and the London College of Music (ALCM), and trained as an actor and singer. He has worked in West End musical theatre, regional theatre, touring productions and opera for over thirty years.

==Stage career==

His West End credits include:

*''Kiss of the Spider Woman''
*''City of Angels''
*''[[The Phantom of the Opera]]'' (Her Majesty's Theatre)
*''Beauty and the Beast'' (Disney)
*''The Lion King'' (Disney)
*''Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary'' concert at the Royal Albert Hall

It was during the run of ''The Phantom of the Opera'' that Pendlebury worked alongside [[Dursley McLinden]], the actor whose life inspired the lead character in [[Russell T Davies]]'s drama ''[[It's a Sin]]'' and whose illness and death galvanised the West End community around HIV/AIDS fundraising.

Regional and touring credits include ''Chess'', ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', ''The Producers'', ''Sweeney Todd'', ''Sleeping Beauty'' and opera productions of ''Aida'' and ''Carmen''.

==Charitable leadership==

===West End Cares (1994–2003)===

[[West End Cares]] had been founded in 1990 under the umbrella of Crusaid by Bob West, David Kernan and Geoffrey Henning, with [[Jill Nalder]] serving as inaugural chair, in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic devastating the theatre community. Pendlebury took over as Chairman in 1994 as the crisis was still at its height, and steered the organisation through the years of maximum loss in the theatre world and into the era of effective antiretroviral treatment.

===Theatrecares (2003–2008)===

In 2003 Pendlebury led the renaming of West End Cares to Theatrecares, reflecting the organisation's expansion beyond London's West End to encompass the broader UK theatre community. He continued as Chairman throughout this period.

===Make a Difference Trust / TheatreMAD (2008–2016)===

In 2008 Pendlebury co-founded, with Melanie Tranter and Julian Bird, the [[Make a Difference Trust]] — formally constituted as an independent registered charity and the first standalone HIV/AIDS charity for the British theatre industry, trading as TheatreMAD. As founder and Chairman he conceived and produced fundraising events including:

*'''West End Eurovision''' — a fundraising competition for West End casts modelled on the Eurovision Song Contest
*'''West End Bares''' — a fundraising burlesque event featuring West End performers
*'''Late Night Cabarets''' — continuing the tradition established with [[Dursley McLinden]] and [[Jill Nalder]]
*'''Annual Theatre Bucket Collection Appeals'''

By the time the Trust closed in 2021 — its theatre-based fundraising model made impossible by the COVID-19 pandemic — it had raised more than £14 million in total across its three incarnations, and distributed over £2.6 million in grants to UK and international HIV/AIDS projects.

==See also==

*[[Make a Difference Trust]]
*[[Dursley McLinden]]
*[[Jill Nalder]]
*[[It's a Sin]]

[[Category:Theatre]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS organisations]]
[[Category:Charities]]