Award-winning filmmaker Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts

Founded in 2007 by Nicole May and Alex Purves, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts is a multi-purpose performing arts studio, offering first-class tuition for children and adults in all aspects of performing. In 2017, Nicole took on the running of the school while Alex stepped aside to become a trustee of the organisation and he continues to regularly offer his help and support. Located in Hoddesdon Town Centre, the Mayhem building is a renovated brewery barn with links to Christie’s Brewery dating back to the 1700s and provides a focal point for the arts in East Hertfordshire.

As a multi-purpose hub, situated at the heart of the community, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts facilitates a wealth of creative activities from dance to filmmaking to sewing courses. It also opens its doors to many local groups and clubs to run classes of their own.

Rob Finlay is an award-winning video and animation content producer and director living and working in Hertfordshire.

After graduating from the University of Bristol with a BA Hons in archaeology in 2003, Rob immediately set up Previsualisation Ltd, an award-winning 3D visualisation company. Enlisting the support of TV personality Tony Robinson, the team produced Recycling Land, an animated educational film that won the Creative East Awards Best Non-Broadcast Award 2007.

Headhunted in 2009 by integrated web developer Solutions Ltd, Rob built the company’s first video and animation department and attracted a raft of new clients including Thales and KPMG.

In 2011 Rob set up EFD Ltd, a business offering web, social and video services to a broad range of clients based out of the world-famous Elstree Studios. He developed a global film and animation competition for children and young people called A Sense Of... Partners included Creative England, Spotlight, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Elstree Studios and Royal Opera House Bridge. The project enabled hundreds of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds get a foot on the film industry ladder. In 2015 the project won a Hertfordshire Business Award and a gold trophy at the Marcom Awards.

During 2018 Rob took up a full-time position at CIMA as producer/director. Establishing the organisation’s first video and multimedia department in the UK, Rob’s role was critical for the growth of the global team. He oversaw conceptual and educational programmes, live webcasts and studio productions in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Today Rob is freelance working for a range of local and national clients, including Hertfordshire Constabulary, St Albans City and District Council, Local Government Association, Clarion Housing, Hertsmere Borough Council, Elstree Studios, Gristwood & Toms and BRCGS.

In the past three years, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts has expanded its own services to include creative and visual arts, to offer weekly sessions designed to stretch and challenge students, introducing them to new skills and encouraging their personal creativity to become skillful, dynamic performers.

Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts is currently the only performing arts school offering this in the borough and it welcomes everyone. From complete beginner to advanced, all ability levels and ages are welcome.

As the world continues to evolve in the visual arts sector, more and more TV and Film is being produced than ever before – especially here in our own county. Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts feels funding, resources and opportunities for young people need to be available. It is vital that students can access the creative arts as a hobby to nurture skills that could lead to a future career. With the expansion of film studios across Hertfordshire, more job opportunities and career paths are opening than ever before.

Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts aspires to play a pivotal role in inspiring Generation Alpha to become young filmmakers, lighting technicians, costume designers, editors, as well as directors, choreographers and performers. Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts believes that the creative sector needs to find a way to connect with the parents and guardians of creative children and make them aware of the opportunities this diverse and inclusive industry can offer.

Over the next five years, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts would like to expand its community services borough-wide and hopefully gain new partnerships to support bursaries, sponsorships and funding which will enable it to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts currently provides weekly SEN drama and dance classes for adults and hopes to expand this to children and teens in the future. Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts believes that everyone, regardless of ability or age, should have the opportunity to enjoy a creative outlet to express themselves, and Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts classes and services offer just that.

Paul J Rose

Multi-award-winning voice actor

Paul J Rose is a voiceover artist based in Borehamwood and working with clients all over the world. His first experience behind the microphone was in 1989 when he hosted an eight-hour road show for Comic Relief.

Over the next few years he went from hospital radio to satellite radio and even enjoyed a short spell on a pirate station off of the coast of Tel Aviv.

As an actor, he worked with a number of wonderful amateur dramatic companies in shows including Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls and Fiddler on The Roof. The lure was always the chance to work with different voices, but could he do it professionally?

Working alongside his regular job in sales, Paul recorded everything from mobile phone ringtones to radio commercials and web videos, slowly building up a portfolio of clients. His work into the corporate sector increased, as well as eLearning.

His big opportunity arose when a dubbing studio was looking for an actor who could play multiple characters – a 34-part drama series from China needed to be translated into English on a tight budget. The studio rose to the challenge with Paul playing all three of the principle male roles and an ensemble cast of dozens of supporting characters.

That same studio is now a Netflix partner and Paul has had the pleasure of voicing numerous characters on children’s shows, including the award-winning Go Go Cory Carson, Chip and Potato and Storybots.

Paul works primarily from his home studio and is always happy to travel if the project demands it. He also now works as an MC for Awards Shows and is looking forward to returning for a second year as host of the NHS Staff Excellence Awards at Wembley Stadium. For more information visit: www.pauljrose.com