Profession: Theatrical Producer
Attended Hall School Wimbledon: 1999 – 2007 (N)

About Pelé: Pelé Ling’s passion for the theatre can be traced back to his HSW school days when he started producing his own theatrical productions in the Grove. After a happy and successful time at HSW, he moved on to study A-Levels at Esher College where he found himself elected President of the Student Council. Pelé was always an ambitious and resourceful character and, keen to pursue a career in theatrical production, he set up his own company, produced a comedy sketch show and opened a little theatre at the San Lorenzo restaurant in Wimbledon.

A few months later the show was given a makeover and transferred to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2009.  By the age of 17, Pelé was a producer in his own right and secured a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) to study Technical Theatre and Stage Management.  Before he embarked upon the course, Pelé made it his business to introduce himself to Sir Cameron Mackintosh at the opening night of Oliver. Suitably impressed, Sir Cameron offered him work experience.

At RADA Pelé strived to broaden his knowledge in all aspects of theatre and attained secondments and internships at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Ghost the Musical, and Sonia Friedman Productions. Pelé now finds himself working full time for one of the most prestigious producers of the West End and Broadway. To find out more about Pelé, visit his website www.peleling.com.

Pelé’s memories of HSW: “I remember getting to school at 7am every Friday morning and cooking eggy bread and bacon for the entire school! In History, I recall painting pots, smashing those pots, and then crawling round in the dusty basement looking for our pot pieces, before gluing the pots back together! School field trips were also a highlight…we visited Wales, Eastbourne, the Lake District and France where we learned to climb, cook our own meals and pitch tents – and learned what to do when the wind completely destroyed our 20-man tent!“