beginners improv classes
A fun & friendly introduction to improvisation!
A fun and friendly one workshop introduction to improv with topics including Listening, Yes And, Confidence, Spontaneity, Character, Scenes, Games and most of all having fun improvising!
No experience in acting, comedy or improv needed whatsoever. You don’t need to be clever or funny!
Hoopla offer one of the most fun and friendly environments to learn improvisation in the UK. Hoopla create a friendly, fun and supportive atmosphere in workshops where people are free to play and be themselves.
follow up course
The follow up to these workshops is our 8 week beginners improv course , with online and in-real-life options starting every month.
You can start straight away with our 8 week beginners course, you don’t have to start with these taster days.
in the news!
Our classes have recently been recommended by The Evening Standard, Grazia, Chortle, The Londonist, Broadway World and more!
I laughed so hard that I cried, full-on shaking with laughter, as tears streamed down my face.
Epic epic epic place. Crazy fun. Took an improv course with Hoopla and it was the best ever. Don't hesitate to go there, just go!!!
Sick of your flat? Wish you could get out? Try online improv classes.
Always wanted to have a crack at improv comedy? With Hoopla running online now's the time.
The supportive atmosphere ensures that even complete beginners will have the confidence to grow their skills.
Improv your way out of isolation with Hoopla!
Hoopla’s teachers are warm and welcoming and playing in workshops is one of the most joyful, creative things a person can do.
The Zoom medium works surprisingly well. Our teacher, is chipper, instructive, inventive and uses zoom features to great effect.
The workshop really helps you internalise some of the skills we all know are important, like really listening, not dismissing others’ ideas out of hand and allowing yourself to speak up.
Hoopla's workshops are supportive and collaborative.
If improvisation floats your boat you should head to Hoopla. There’s fewer better ways to see what spur-of-the-moment comedy London has to offer.
My anxiety evaporated in that room. My stage fright transformed into excitement, and I became dynamic, more spontaneous. Happier.
As a newcomer to improv, I feel so lucky to have discovered Hoopla. What a fantastic company. I just can't recommend them highly enough!! You'll genuinely laugh till you cry and stretch yourself in ways you never thought possible.
Everywhere you look, huge grins suggest an enthusiasm and an attentiveness that is rarely seen in a class.
Great to instantly connect with people, drop barriers and have fun for a few hours. I felt like I was developing personally in a supportive, fun environment and that felt great. What a blast!
I now regularly try to make room for improv and play time in my life. It is a bright spot when I am feeling beaten down by the everyday. The three hours of laughter do wonders for my stress levels, and afterwards I sleep without a care.
This introduction to improvisation will teach the skills you'll need to master scenes, stories and sketches in a relaxed environment.
Hoopla Impro is awesome. I’ve done a number of courses with them. They were fantastic and really helpful in building my love of improv and comedy as well as improving my confidence.
The capital’s best improv. The UK’s first improv comedy club.
dates
Wednesday 22nd March 2023, 7pm – 9pm: SOLD OUT
Venue: Holborn House Community Centre, 35 Emerald Street, London, WC1N 3QW.
Tubes: Holborn or Chancery Lane.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 1st April 2023, 2pm – 4pm: SOLD OUT
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Monday 3rd April 2023, 7pm – 9pm: SOLD OUT
Venue: Kobi Nazrul Centre, 30 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR.
Tubes: Liverpool Street or Shoreditch High Street.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Tuesday 4th April 2023, 8pm – 10pm: BOOK
Venue: Old Diorama Arts Centre, Regent’s Place, 201 Drummond Street, London, NW1 3FE.
Tubes: Warren Street or Euston.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 8th April 2023, 2pm – 4pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Monday 24th April 2023, 7pm – 9pm: BOOK
Venue: Kobi Nazrul Centre, 30 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR.
Tubes: Liverpool Street or Shoreditch High Street.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 27th May 2023, 11:30am – 1:30pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Wednesday 31st May 2023, 7pm – 9pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 10th June 2023, 11:30am – 1:30pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 10th June 2023, 2pm – 4pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Wednesday 14th June 2023, 7pm – 9pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 24th June 2023, 11:30am – 1:30pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 24th June 2023, 2pm – 4pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Wednesday 28th June 2023, 7pm – 9pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 8th July 2023, 11:30am – 1:30pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 8th July 2023, 2pm – 4pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Wednesday 12th July 2023, 7pm – 9pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 22nd July 2023, 11:30am – 1:30pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
Saturday 22nd July 2023, 2pm – 4pm: BOOK
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 241 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £20.
Ages: 18+
our teachers
Maeve Ryan
Maeve performs in and produces Ladyprov, Hoopla's regular show celebrating women in improv. She trained in Acting at The Arts Educational School.
Monica Gaga
Monica hosts Hoopla's main weekend shows and performs improv in Do The Right Scene and Derek's Mojo. She trained in Community Theatre at East 15 Drama School.
Liam Brennan
Liam performs with The Science of Living Things, Fright Night and The Improvised Crystal Maze and directs many of our new shows. He has trained at UCB and iO.
Steve Roe
Steve is the director and co-founder of Hoopla. He performs with Music Box the improvised musical and has trained with Keith Johnstone, Charna Halpern from iO, UCB and more. He also teaches improv at East 15 drama school and Imperial College.
faqs
Who is this suitable for?
People with no previous experience of improv, or limited experience. You don’t need any improv, acting or comedy experience whatsoever to do this class. You don’t have to be clever or funny either! Everyone is welcome.
What’s the best follow up to this workshop?
Our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course is the best follow up, it’s a longer 8 week course that goes into greater depth and is available in both real-life and online formats.
Can I just start straight away with the 8 week beginners course?
Yes. You don't have to do this taster day first, you can start straight away with our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course, which is our most popular course.
How much improv should I have done before doing this class?
You don’t need to have done anything at all before starting this class.
I’ve never done any impro, comedy or acting before, I’ve never been on stage in my life, is that OK?
Yes that’s perfect, this class has been designed for total beginners so you’d be very welcome.
Will you be doing it again?
Yes, please see dates above for confirmed dates and we’ll also announce future dates on our twitter, facebook and email list.
How big is the class size?
Average class size is 12-14 people, maximum 16 people.
Is there a break?
Yes there’s a short break halfway.
topics
- Having fun improvising.
- Fun and friendly warm ups.
- Confidence on stage.
- Active Listening. Putting your attention on the other actor.
- Yes And. Yes Let’s.
- Accepting and Building on Offers.
- Being Obvious.
- Being present in the moment.
- Spontaneity.
- Letting yourself go, going for it, playing.
- Having fun with incorporating mistakes.
- Platforms. Location, Character, Relationship.
- Physical Improv.
- Introduction to Characters.
- Improvising Games.
- Introduction to Improvising Scenes.
- Introduction to Improvising Stories.
- Working together as a team.
Most of all having tonnes of fun improvising in a friendly, safe and supportive environment.