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!
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.