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Press and Reviews Linda Haywood, 18th August 2009, Edinburgh Festival, thenewcurrent.com Hoopla! is an improvised comedy show akin to Whose Line Is It Anyway? but with better jokes and a much more attractive compere than Clive Anderson. Zany, poetic and contemporary, the hour of entertainment flies by. Audience participation in the Scottish capital proved to be somewhat difficult and a translator was brought in to decipher the local accent for the Southern performers. The audience is an integral part of the show and everyone is encouraged to join in by interrupting with new instructions and ideas. The tram works in Edinburgh became a popular audience suggestion for satire and the eventual scene involved Keanu Reeves looking for Sandra Bullock on a German tram which couldn’t go below 20 miles an hour. Another audience favourite turned out to be "George", an amalgam of all the actors who spoke and moved as one. The audience had to converse with the "Geolography" teacher in unison which was really difficult and led to some unexpected responses. A personal preference was for the Disney World abduction scene which took the participants on a journey through the underground vaults beneath the California resort. The great thing with improvisation is, the whole show will be different every day and so you can return again and again especially since the production incorporates a rotating cast of 16 talented young performers. Three Weeks, August 2009, Edinburgh Festival Inventive improvisation and clever comedy! This band of comedy delights was formed in 2006 by two old buddies Steve Roe and Edgar Fernando, who, rather adorably, had been firm friends since they were only four years old. Featuring sketches and songs partly based on the audience's suggestions, you (the viewer) have the chance to influence what you see and challenge the performers to test the quickness of their thinking, prove their worth and make you laugh. The show comprises a rotating cast of talented performers who offer variety and hilarity galore; featuring quirky quips and dynamic dialogues, this contemporary off-the-cuff comedy will make you laugh your heart out! Vivien Devlin, 18th August 2009, Edinburgh Festival, edinburghguide.com I was walking down Frederick Street the other day on my way home to write up some Fringe reviews for EdinburghGuide when I was politely accosted by a couple of performers outside Fingers Piano Bar. It was 3.10pm. I was informed that their show Hoopla Impro was about to start. The good news was that their show is free and secondly that the bar was open. Well, perhaps my reviews can wait an hour. Whose Line Is It Anyway? was originally a British radio series, moving over to television in 1988, followed ten years later with a cult version on American ABC television. The programme consists of a panel of four performers who create characters, scenes and songs on the spot, in the style of short, pacy improvisation games. This is the inspiration behind this original fringe show featuring a group of comedy actors from London. The bar was packed out but I managed to find a seat right at the front. Don't worry - no one is dragged on stage. The host, Edgar, does a quick warm up act, enticing the audience to participate, join in and generally have fun. Then he introduces Chris, Jackie, Steve and Sarah (the panel members change daily from a larger team) and the show begins. Topics for improvised sketches are based on audience suggestions which are then acted out with ad hoc direction and prompting by Edgar, who switches actors, roles and theatrical style. An entertaining hour moves between various parlour and word play games - such as a conversation on a given subject without using the letter S. Without a prepared script, characters or plot, the four comic actors perform with endearing charm a series of improvised stories and dramatised scenes to create a quick paced, inventive and witty show. Not a bad way to spend a free afternoon on the Fringe! (Just add a contribution to company funds in their yellow bucket on the way out). Fringe Review, August 2009, Edinburgh Festival FringeReview.co.uk's Number 1 recommended Free Show throughout the 2009 Edinburgh Festival. Time Out, Edinburgh Previews All Edinburgh Preview shows recommended by Time Out.