diversity and inclusion
Improv for everyone!
Improv wants you! Whoever you are, improv needs you because improv and Hoopla are better with everyone involved.
Different voices, different backgrounds and different people all playing together as one is what makes improv exciting, dynamic, funny and FUN!
So whoever you are, wherever you are from, whatever your ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation or age….Hoopla want you in the team!
This isn’t a dreary policy to tick arts council funding boxes. Because we don’t even apply for arts council funding and never have! Hoopla is fully creatively and politically independent and we are doing this because WE WANT TO!
This is beyond a diversity policy, it’s a constant ongoing diversity FESTIVAL!
We are encouraging all groups of people, not to divide them but to grow them and unite them so everyone can play as one.
By doing this we are creating commercially successful comedy. We are building the community that will create the hit TV and Netflix shows of the future.
Comedy would be boring without different voices, and the new wave of comedians and improvisers are here at Hoopla!
We are doing this to make better improv.
Be a part of it.
Improv for everyone!
You can now also support this work by donating to our crowdfunder campaign for an ongoing improv outreach worker!
My anxiety evaporated in that room. My stage fright transformed into excitement, and I became dynamic, more spontaneous. Happier.
I felt empowered and energised. So much so that I took the next course level and did my first public performance.
The supportive atmosphere ensures that even complete beginners will have the confidence to grow their skills
Hoopla's workshops are supportive and collaborative.
In one class, I laughed so hard that I cried, full-on shaking with laughter, as tears streamed down my face.
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.
The finest off-the-cuff troupes on the circuit.
Thanks for the workshop. All the feedback has been extremely positive! The team loved it!
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.
The capital’s best improv. The UK’s first improv comedy club.
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.
Signing up for improv classes helped my shyness to melt away.
Teaches the skills you’ll need to master scenes, stories and sketches in a relaxed environment.
Everywhere you look, huge grins suggest an enthusiasm and an attentiveness that is rarely seen in a course.
improv for everyone!
We don’t want price to be a barrier to improvising, so we offer free or discounted places every single month on our courses.
We run regular shows and workshops to inspire more Black, Asian and Minority Ethic Improvisers in improv. We also offer diversity scholarships to these improvisers and are increasing the number of Black and Asian teachers.
Every month we give free or discounted courses to people on lower incomes, students and key workers.
Fun & friendly improv classes for the over 60s. Your life experience makes you a better improviser and we want you in Hoopla.
If you have a physical disability or mental illness it doesn’t have to stop you improvising. We will chat with you to find a way for you to play each exercise and be part of the team.
We work with St. Mungo’s Broadway Recovery College each year to provide free improv courses for homeless people.
Improv isn’t just a London thing, it is happening all over the country. We put on festivals and send out teachers to help bring improv to different areas.
We have a large number of international students and people with English as a second language on our courses.
You can now also support this work by donating to our crowdfunder campaign for an ongoing improv outreach worker!
To help us keep a fun, friendly and supportive space at Hoopla please also have a read of the following:
Code of Conduct for People on Courses
Code of Conduct for Performers
We are very open to feedback about how we could improve the diversity of the UK improv scene, so if you have any suggestions please get in touch.
Improv for Everyone!
My anxiety evaporated in that room. My stage fright transformed into excitement, and I became dynamic, more spontaneous. Happier.
I felt empowered and energised. So much so that I took the next course level and did my first public performance.
The supportive atmosphere ensures that even complete beginners will have the confidence to grow their skills
Hoopla's workshops are supportive and collaborative.
In one class, I laughed so hard that I cried, full-on shaking with laughter, as tears streamed down my face.
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.
The finest off-the-cuff troupes on the circuit.
Thanks for the workshop. All the feedback has been extremely positive! The team loved it!
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.
The capital’s best improv. The UK’s first improv comedy club.
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.
Signing up for improv classes helped my shyness to melt away.
Teaches the skills you’ll need to master scenes, stories and sketches in a relaxed environment.
Everywhere you look, huge grins suggest an enthusiasm and an attentiveness that is rarely seen in a course.