Hoopla Improv Blog

Workshop & rehearsal notes, new games and exercises, impro tips and musings at our regular improv blog.

31st May 2013: Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013 Show Recommendations.

24th May 2013: New Character Exercise: Clichéd Characters Instant Depth.

19th May 2013: Reasons why I loved last night’s Impro Jam so much.

13th May 2013: Improv is Real Life Backwards.

1st May 2013: Improv Tips.

1st May 2013: Historical Influences on Impro. Chapter 6. Future.

1st May 2013: Historical Influences on Impro. Chapter 5. Collective Joy.

1st May 2013: Historical Influences on Impro. Chapter 4. Education.  

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Due to popular demand Hoopla have taken eight years of experience of teaching improvisation for group based scenes and sketches, and adapted it to this tailor made class for stand-up and solo improvisation.

Learn how to confidentially improvise by yourself in front of an audience and with the audience using a mix of improv and clown skills.

Improvisation For Stand Ups Workshops

Taught by Steve Roe, Hoopla

Steve Roe is the co-founder of Hoopla and has been teaching improv for over eight years. He teaches improvisation full-time in London and also tours around the UK and Europe.

Steve has experience of teaching beginners, experienced improvisers, stand ups, drama school students and professional actors.

He has also taught improvisation at Imperial College London and to various corporate clients including Apple, Ignite and ITV.

Steve has learnt from various improv teachers including Keith Johnstone, Jonathan Kay, Dylan Emery, Kevin Tomlinson, Allan Marriott, John Cremer, The Chicago Improv Associates and Jay Rhoderick from The Upright Citizens Brigade.

Steve currently performs in Music Box the Improvised Musical (5 Stars – Fringe Guru, 5 Stars – Remote Goat), and various other shows across London’s improv scene.

In 2010 Steve founded the UK’s first improvised comedy club at The Miller in London Bridge, creating a vibrant community of performers. He currently produces and promotes improvised comedy every Tuesday at The Miller.

In 2012 Hoopla’s Improv Comedy Club was recommended as the best place to see improvised comedy in London by both The Daily Telegraph AND The Londonist.

“If improvisation floats your boat you should head to The Miller by London Bridge every Tuesday for Hoopla. There’s fewer better ways to see what spur-of-the-moment comedy London has to offer.” - The Londonist, November 2012.

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FAQ

Q: Why is this now two days rather than one day?
A: Following feedback from previous workshops people preferred having a two day course so they could practice more. It means we can teach all the exercises on the first day and practice loads in a more free-form style on the second day and get the most out of it.

Q: Who is this suitable for?
A: People who’ve done some stand-up. All levels of stand-up, from brand new to experience pros, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing it for. As a lot of the exercises are solo we can adapt them to suit the needs of each performer. At the start we’ll also find out particular areas people want to work on.

Q: Is Steve a stand-up?
A: No, he’s an improviser. This is a workshop based on over eight years experience of teaching and performing improvisation being adapted and introduced to the stand-up world with a new point of view. Steve worked with stand-ups in designing the course to make sure the most relevant exercises from improv and clown for stand-up were used.

Q: Do I need to bring material?
A: No. We won’t be using pre-written material in the course, it’s all improvised.

Q: Why is the class size limited to 12?
A: So the class is small enough for everyone to have lots of stage time, but big enough so that there’s still an audience during exercises.

Q: Have you done this course before?
A: Yes. We’ve been doing it on a regular basis for a couple of years.

Q: Will you be doing it again?
A: Yes, please see dates above for confirmed dates and we’ll also announce future dates on our twitter, facebook and email list.

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Day 1:

- Fun warm ups and introduction to improv.

- Core improv skills including listening, yes and, commitment, fun mistakes & spontaneity.

- Becoming present in the room.

- Being connected to the audience.

- Core Clown skills, following the laugh.

- Game of the monologue.

- Using offers from the room and audience.

- Being honest. Using your life experiences.

- Improvising solo in front of an audience.

- Playing with non-responsive audiences.

- Improvising jokes and stories on the spot.

- Improvising multiple characters solo.

- Having fun improvising.

Day 2:

- Putting it all together and having some fun.

- Improvising from offers in the room.

- Improvising from audience observations.

- Open ended questions with the audience.

- Involving, acknowledging and interacting with the audience.

- Improvising from a ‘Set List’ style topic.

- Improvising monologues, games, stories, and character pieces.

>> BOOK NOW