advanced long-form
Get AMAZING at long-form with Sam Hancock from Second City Toronto!
We are thrilled to announce that Sam Hancock, a teacher with Second City Toronto’s advanced long-form courses and conservatory programme, is now working with Hoopla and teaching this brand new Advanced Long-Form Course!
Designed for improvisers with previous long-form experience who want to take their long-form to another level with more feedback and side-coaching, multiple shows to rapidly build up long-form performance experience, longer in depth classes for more practice, and an amazing teacher!
MORE feedback and side-coaching!
As this is an advanced course the teacher will be giving more direct feedback and active side-coaching than normal, helping you to take your long-form improv up a level, elevate your skills and grow as an improviser.
LONGER classes than normal!
Classes on this course will be 3 hours long instead of the usual 2 hours, so we have more time to go into greater depth over each workshop including:
- An efficient start of warming up and bonding around improv fundamentals.
- Then going into greater depth than normal with long-form scenes, while receiving lots of additional side-coaching and feedback.
- Then providing lots of long-form show format practice with helpful feedback and side-coaching.
If you want a FULL long-form improv workout, then this is the right place!
MULTIPLE shows!
Get LOADS of performing experience! Instead of the normal solo end of course show this course will have:
- A main end of course show for friends and family.
- Then a workshop from Hoopla’s show team about performing longer term at Hoopla as an independent team including ongoing performance and producing tips.
- Then a couple of additional shows as an independent team at Hoopla’s night to help you build up long-form experience on stage.
STRICTLY only for people with previous long-form experience!
To take this course you will need to have completed Levels 1-4 at Hoopla (or equivalent elsewhere) with previous experience of long-form improv including long-form scenes, edits, tags and long-form formats.
We will keep a close eye on this at time of booking and also during the course to make sure people with the right experience are on this course, and may need to move people to different levels to make sure the overall experience level is correct for this course.
Follow up courses with Sam Hancock also now available!
If you’ve already completed this course…. Sam Hancock is now also teaching follow up courses with Hoopla! So you can stay with people who have a similar level of experience to you and carry on getting more amazing long-form experience with Sam! Please scroll down this page for details.
next available dates
Main Class Details
Main Class Dates: Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 15th September 2026. BOOK
Teacher: Sam Hancock from Second City Toronto.
Class Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Class Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road.
Main End of Course Show Details
Main End of Course Show Date: Tuesday 17th November 2026.
Show Times: 8pm – 10pm.
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Tube: London Bridge.
Additional Bonus Workshop Details
Additional Bonus Workshop Date: Monday 23rd November 2026.
Teacher: Steve Roe, Hoopla’s Director.
Workshop Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Class Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road.
Additional Bonus Shows Details
– 2 additional optional bonus show dates as an independent team to get more performing practice.
– 2 x 25 minute spots each night alongside other groups.
– Half the cast from the course in one group each night, half the cast in the other group that same night.
– If you don’t have enough cast for two groups you’ll be performing as one group per night, rather than having cast members perform twice on the same night.
Additional Bonus Show Dates: Monday 30th November 2026 (7:30pm – 9:30pm) AND Saturday 5th December 2026 (6pm – 7:30pm).
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Tube: London Bridge.
Price: £350. Either payable all at once or £175 at time of booking and £175 when the course starts.
Ages: 18+
This is an advanced course. To do this course you will need to have first completed Hoopla Levels 1-4 (or equivalent elsewhere) and have experience of long-form improv including edits, tags and long-form improv scenes and shows.
Main Class Details
Main Class Dates: Every Thursday for 8 weeks from Thursday 17th September 2026. BOOK
Teacher: Sam Hancock from Second City Toronto.
Class Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Class Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road.
Main End of Course Show Details
Main End of Course Show Date: Wednesday 18th November 2026.
Show Times: 8pm – 10pm.
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Tube: London Bridge.
Additional Bonus Workshop Details
Additional Bonus Workshop Date: Monday 23rd November 2026.
Teacher: Steve Roe, Hoopla’s Director.
Workshop Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Class Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road.
Additional Bonus Shows Details
– 2 additional optional bonus show dates as an independent team to get more performing practice.
– 2 x 25 minute spots each night alongside other groups.
– Half the cast from the course in one group each night, half the cast in the other group that same night.
– If you don’t have enough cast for two groups you’ll be performing as one group per night, rather than having cast members perform twice on the same night.
Additional Bonus Show Dates: Wednesday 2nd December 2026 (7:30pm – 9:30pm) AND Wednesday 9th December 2026 (7:30pm – 9:30pm).
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Tube: London Bridge.
Price: £350. Either payable all at once or £175 at time of booking and £175 when the course starts.
Ages: 18+
This is an advanced course. To do this course you will need to have first completed Hoopla Levels 1-4 (or equivalent elsewhere) and have experience of long-form improv including edits, tags and long-form improv scenes and shows.
required experience needed to do this course:
Please only sign up to this course if you:
– Have completed Levels 1-4 at Hoopla, or a similar amount of improv somewhere else.
– Have especially completed Hoopla’s Level 4 Course (Long-Form), or similar.
– Have experience and understanding of improvising long-form improv.
– Have experience and understanding of edits, tags, scenes and long-form formats.
Please fill in the questions regarding experience when booking, and contact us if you aren’t sure.
Hoopla reserve the right to move your booking to a different level if you don’t have the required long-form experience, before or during the course, and will check this at time of booking and when the course starts.
sold out dates:
Main Class Details
Main Class Dates: Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 30th June 2026. SOLD OUT
Teacher: Sam Hancock from Second City Toronto.
Class Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Class Venue: Holborn House Community Centre, 35 Emerald St, London, WC1N 3QW.
Tube: Holborn.
Main End of Course Show Details
Main End of Course Show Date: Thursday 20th August 2026.
Show Times: 8pm – 10pm.
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Tube: London Bridge.
Additional Bonus Workshops Details
Additional Bonus Workshop Dates: Tuesday 25th August 2026 (with Sam Hancock) and Tuesday 8th September 2026 (with Steve Roe).
Workshop Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Class Venue: Holborn House Community Centre, 35 Emerald St, London, WC1N 3QW.
Tube: Holborn.
Additional Bonus Shows Details
– Additional optional bonus show dates as an independent team to get more performing practice.
– 2 x 25 minute spots each night alongside other groups.
– Half the cast from the course in one group each night, half the cast in the other group that same night.
– If you don’t have enough cast for two groups you’ll be performing as one group per night, rather than having cast members perform twice on the same night.
Additional Bonus Show Dates: Saturday 12th September 2026, Thursday 24th September 2026, Saturday 3rd October 2026, Thursday 8th October 2026 (you don’t have to do all of the additional show dates).
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Tube: London Bridge.
Price: £350. Either payable all at once or £175 at time of booking and £175 when the course starts.
Ages: 18+
This is an advanced course. To do this course you will need to have first completed Hoopla Levels 1-4 (or equivalent elsewhere) and have experience of long-form improv including edits, tags and long-form improv scenes and shows.
Dates:
Main Class Dates: Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 1st June 2026, plus additional class and show dates below. SOLD OUT
Main Show Date: Saturday 25th July 2026.
Additional Post-Show Workshop: Monday 27th July 2026.
Additional Bonus Workshop with Hoopla Director: Wednesday 29th July 2026.
Additional Show Dates as an Independent Team: Saturday 5th September 2026, Saturday 19th September 2026, Thursday 1st October 2026, Saturday 10th October 2026. (you don’t have to do all of the additional show dates).
Workshop Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 – 2.5 hours).
Teacher: Sam Hancock from Second City and Bad Dog Theatre Toronto.
Price: £400 reduced to £350 for first runs of this course. Either payable all at once or £175 at time of booking and £175 when the course starts.
Venue: Cromer Studios, 98 Cromer Street, King’s Cross, London, WC1H 8JU.
Tubes: King’s Cross / St. Pancras / Euston / Russell Square / Warren Street.
Ages: 18+
This is an advanced course, please see below for required experience.
additional follow up course if you've done this course before: narrative long-form.
This follow up course is strictly for people who have already completed an advanced long-form course with Sam Hancock at Hoopla. Please only book these dates if you have already done an Advanced Long-Form Course with Sam Hancock at Hoopla.
This Advanced Narrative Improv Course is designed for students who have completed Advanced Longform with Sam and are ready to deepen their understanding of narrative improvisation.
In this course, we will explore multiple genres and story structures, focusing on how strong characters and well-crafted scenes work together to move a story forward. The emphasis is on building cohesive narratives, sustaining stakes over time, and understanding your role within a larger ensemble story.
This class will challenge you not to always search for the funniest moment, but instead to play the long game by making smart, supportive choices and learning how to serve the story as it unfolds. Students will be encouraged to think like both performers and storytellers, balancing spontaneity with structure to create emotionally grounded and theatrically compelling improv.
This is an advanced course for improvisers who want on the spot feedback and don’t mind doing a little homework!
Main Class Details
Main Class Dates: Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 7th September 2026, plus additional class and show dates below. BOOK
Teacher: Sam Hancock from Second City Toronto.
Class Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Class Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road.
Main End of Course Show Details
– 2 x 40 minute spots, with an interval in between.
– Half the cast from the course in one group each night, half the cast in the other group that same night.
Main End of Course Show Date: Wednesday 28th October 2026.
Show Times: 8pm – 10pm.
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Additional Bonus Workshop Details
Additional optional bonus workshop with Hoopla show team: Monday 9th November 2026.
Workshop Times: 7pm – 10pm (3 hours instead of the usual 2 hours).
Workshop Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tube: Tottenham Court Road.
Additional Bonus Shows Details
– Additional optional bonus show dates as an independent team to get more performing practice.
– 2 x 25 minute spots each night alongside other groups.
– Half the cast from the course in one group each night, half the cast in the other group that same night.
– If you don’t have enough cast you’ll be doing one group per night, rather than having cast members perform twice on the same night.
Dates:
Saturday 14th November 2026, 6pm – 7:30pm.
Thursday 19th November 2026, 7:30pm – 9:30pm.
Show Venue: Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
Price: £350. Either payable all at once or £175 at time of booking and £175 when the course starts.
Ages: 18+
This follow up course is strictly for people who have already completed an advanced long-form course with Sam Hancock at Hoopla. Please only book these dates if you have already done an Advanced Long-Form Course with Sam Hancock at Hoopla.
teacher Sam Hancock
Sam Hancock is an LGBTQ+ comedian, actor, writer, and creator from Toronto, Canada.
Sam teaches at Second City Toronto including their Improv Levels 1-5 Programme, Acting Programme, and Conservatory Programme (the highest level at Second City).
Sam has trained with Second City (all levels), Bad Dog Theatre (all levels) and has completed Advanced Improv with The Groundlings in LA. She is a graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts (2015) where she studied musical theatre and acting, The Second City Conservatory (2018) and is a Bad Dog Featured Player Alumna (2019).
Sam performs with The Second City Toronto (2021-2025), Second City Touring Company, and also has performed at The Just for Laughs Festival and on TV with her sketch troupe My Chemical Bromance. She also runs a bi-weekly solo sketch show, Monster Island, at Comedy Bar in Toronto.
Sam is super excited to be joining the Hoopla Team.
faqs
Who is this suitable for?
People with previous long-form improv experience who want to go into more depth with long-form, with more feedback and side-coaching, who want to take their long-form experience up a level with an amazing teacher.
How much improv experience do I need to do this course?
You will have need to have completed Levels 1-4 at Hoopla, or a similar amount somewhere else. You especially must have completed Hoopla's Level 4 Course (Long-Form) or similar. You must have experience and understanding of long-form improv including edits, tags, scenes and long-form formats. We will need to be strict on this due to the advanced nature of this course.
How do you check this experience?
At time of booking there are questions for you to answer regards previous long-form experience. We will also check your booking against your previous bookings. The teacher will also check during the course that everyone is at the right level for the course.
What happens if I book but I'm at the wrong level of experience for the course?
We will chat to you and move your booking to a different level course at no extra charge.
faqs
What comes after this course?
Sam is now also teaching follow up courses for people who have previously completed an Advanced Long-Form Course with her at Hoopla, so you can stay with people who have a similar level of experience to you and carry on getting more amazing long-form experience.
What if I can’t make every week?
As we’re forming a team over the course it’s best not to miss more than one workshop session over the course. If you think you’ll miss more than one workshop session over the course please wait until another time to do the course. It's OK to miss some of the shows as there will be enough people to still to cast the shows. We reserve the right not to put people in the end of course show(s) if they haven't been at the workshops regularly and on time.
What if I’m running late?
Please don't book the course if you're likely to be regularly late, as we're trying to establish a team over the course. We reserve the right not to put people in the end of course show(s) if they haven't been at the workshops regularly and on time.
What’s the class size?
The group size is going to be limited to 15 people - small enough that you get lots and lots of practice and stage time, but big enough that there’s still a lively atmosphere in the workshop. It’ll be fun as we get to know each other and build a team together.