• Level 2: Performance Improv Course

performance improv course

An 8 week improv course to gently introduce you into performing improv live on stage for the first time, with a fun end of course show of short-form games and scenes!

This course is designed to follow on from our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course so isn’t a massive leap, and most of the people on it will have come directly from our beginners course.

Over the course you’ll learn how to perform a show of improvised games & scenes using a mix of short-form and scene based improv techniques.

You’ll progress each week with your team of fellow improvisers, before performing in a show together at our Improv Comedy Club in front of a friendly audience.

Performing improv live on stage for the first time is such an exciting experience and we can’t wait to introduce you to it!

Taught by regular performers at our Improv Comedy Club, recently recommended by The Guardian, The Independent, Time Out, The Daily Telegraph, The Londonist and The Evening Standard.

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next available dates

Next Available Dates in Bank/Liverpool Street/Fenchurch Street:

Every Saturday afternoon for 8 weeks from Saturday 11th November 2023 with Liam Brennan, with a break over Christmas and New Year, plus a show on Saturday 27th January 2024. BOOK

Exact Dates: 11th Nov, 18th Nov, 25th Nov, 2nd Dec, 9th Dec, 16th Dec, Break, 13th Jan, 20th Jan, Show on Saturday 27th January 2024.


Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 16th January 2024, plus show on Tuesday 12th March 2024. BOOK


Every Saturday morning for 8 weeks from Saturday 20th January 2024, plus show on Saturday 16th March 2024. BOOK


Every Saturday afternoon for 8 weeks from Saturday 16th September 2023 with Liam Brennan, plus show on Wednesday 15th November 2023. SOLD OUT


Every Thursday for 8 weeks from Thursday 9th November 2023 with Conor Jatter, with a break over Christmas and New Year, plus a show on Thursday 25th January 2024. SOLD OUT

Exact Dates: 9th Nov, 16th Nov, 23rd Nov, 30th Nov, 7th Dec, 14th Dec, Break, 11th Jan, 18th Jan, Show on Thursday 25th January 2024.

  • 7pm – 9pm weekdays. 11am-1pm/2pm-4pm weekends.
  • Bank, Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, Aldgate.
  • £225 – £230.
  • As above.
£225 – £230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remainder once the course starts.
Next Available Dates in London Bridge:
London Bridge venues, see booking links below for addresses.

Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 8th November 2023 with Conor Jatter, with a break over Christmas and New Year, plus a show on Wednesday 24th January 2024. BOOK

Exact Dates: 8th Nov, 15th Nov, 22d Nov, 29th Nov, 6th Dec, 13th Dec, Break, 10th Jan, 17th Jan, Show on Wednesday 24th January 2024.


Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 15th January 2024, plus show on Monday 11th March 2024. BOOK


Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 16th January 2024, plus show on Wednesday 6th March 2024. BOOK


Every Thursday for 8 weeks from Thursday 18th January 2024, plus show on Thursday 14th March 2024. BOOK


Every Saturday morning for 8 weeks from Saturday 23rd September 2023 with Susan Harrison, plus show on Monday 13th November 2023. SOLD OUT


Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 6th November 2023 with James Irving, with a break over Christmas and New Year, plus a show on Monday 22nd January 2024. SOLD OUT

Exact Dates: 6th Nov, 13th Nov, 20th Nov, 27th Nov, 4th Dec, 11th Dec, Break, 8th Jan, 15th Jan, Show on Monday 22nd January 2024.

  • 7pm – 9pm weekdays. 11am – 1pm/2pm-4pm weekends.
  • London Bridge or Borough.
  • £225 – £230.
  • As above.
£225 – £230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remainder once the course starts.
Next Available Dates in Liverpool Street:

Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 22nd January 2024, plus show on Monday 18th March 2024. BOOK

  • 7pm – 9pm weekdays. 11am-1pm/2pm-4pm weekends.
  • Liverpool Street.
  • £230.
  • As above.
£230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remainder once the course starts.
Next Available Dates in Kings Cross:

Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 16th January 2024, plus show on Thursday 7th March 2024. BOOK


Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 17th January 2024, plus show on Wednesday 13th March 2024. BOOK


Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 20th September 2023 with Charlie Vero-Martin, plus show on Thursday 9th November 2023. SOLD OUT


Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 19th September 2023 with Jonah Fazel, plus show on Thursday 9th November 2023. SOLD OUT

  • 7pm – 9pm.
  • Kings Cross.
  • £230.
  • As above.
£230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remainder once the course starts.
Next Available Dates in Warren Street / Euston:

Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 9th January 2024, 8pm – 10pm, plus show on Tuesday 5th March 2024. BOOK


Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 10th January 2024, 6pm – 8pm, plus show on Thursday 29th February 2024. BOOK

  • As above.
  • Warren Street or Euston.
  • £230.
  • As above.
£230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remainder once the course starts.
Next Available Dates in Marylebone/Paddington:

Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 23rd January 2024, plus show on Tuesday 19th March 2024. BOOK

  • 7pm – 9pm.
  • Marylebone, Paddington, Marble Arch.
  • £230.
  • As above.
£230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remainder once the course starts.
Next Available Dates in Holborn:

Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 13th September 2023 with Jenny Rowe, plus show on Saturday 4th November 2023. SOLD OUT

  • 7pm – 9pm.
  • Holborn.
  • £230.
  • As above.
£230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remainder once the course starts.

who runs the course

Maeve Ryan

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 Gaga

Monica hosts Hoopla's weekend shows and performs improv in Do The Right Scene and Derek's Mojo, and sketch comedy on BBC3. She trained in Community Theatre at East 15 Drama School.

Chris Mead, improv teacher

Chris Mead

Chris performs with the award winning Maydays and Project2 improvise sci-fi. He is artistic director of The Nursery and co-founder of The Improv Place. He trained at iO in Chicago.

Lisa-Lynn-Sq

Lisa Lynn

Lisa performs in Music Box and Mutiverse improvised musicals. She also directs Acaprov the improvised a capella musical. She trained in Musical Theatre and has a Drama PGCE at Masters Level.

Susan Harrison

Susan Harrison

Sue performs in the Olivier award winning Showstoppers the Improvised Musical, Beings, and BAFTA winning sketch show Class Dismissed.

James Witt, improv teacher

James Witt

James performs in The Dreamweaver Quartet. He trained in Drama and Theatre Arts at The University of Birmingham and Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting.

Claudia-Novati-Sq

Claudia Novati

Claudia performs with Hoopla's TheatreSports team, and is the founder and co-director of ISL - Improv as Second Language. She trained at Central School of Speech and Drama.

James Whittaker

James Irving

James performs in Dreamweaver Quartet, one of Hoopla's most popular improv shows. He also tours nationwide with The Impromptu Shakespeare Company and Bumper Blyton.

what's included

Each session consists of some fun and friendly warm ups, then some exercises on some of the core skills of improvisation, followed by having some fun with performance games & scenes gradually building up to a show.

You’ll be rehearsing with the same people regularly every week so you progress together. As a committed supportive team you’ll be helping each other to perform in your first ever improv show.

The focus will be on performing as a team, with us teaching using our  experience of performing and directing improv at our venue.

We’ll be helping and encouraging you all the way to your first show. Invite your friends and family and share your love of improv.

In addition to the classes we’re always available to give further advice and have a chat about future performing possibilities. We’ll be able to advise people on things like starting their own groups, places to perform, show formats, promoting, and starting their own improv nights.

We’re even available on an ongoing basis after the course to help give support to performing improvisers and have loads of great ongoing performance opportunities for people who have done our courses.

Overall we hope to give you everything you need to get out into the world of performing for yourself, and will help kick-start you into whatever you want to do.

Improv Basics Recap

  • Teamwork and support
  • Getting to know each other
  • Active listening
  • Agreement
  • Yes And
  • Spontaneity
  • Commitment

 

Establishing Location

  • Introduction to Who What Where
  • Activities, actions, entrances
  • Building a physical environment
  • Object work
  • Staging to make scenes look fantastic

 

Character

  • Fun ways to create instant character
  • Emotions and reactions
  • Movement and voice
  • Using genres to inspire character
  • Status

 

Relationships

  • Identifying each other in scenes
  • Building believable relationships
  • Talking to each other about each other
  • Being truthful and honest on stage
  • Being altered
  • Cutting to the chase

Optional Modules

Adapting to the wants and needs of the group.

  • Positivity
  • Being Obvious
  • Spontaneity
  • Honesty
  • Show games intensive
  • Scene structure
  • Additional character

 

Show Games and Performance Skills

  • Performing a variety of great short-form games
  • Physical, verbal, character and story games
  • How to get out of pre-show nerves
  • Show rehearsals
  • Confidence and having fun with performing in front of an audience
  • Having an AMAZING time performing on stage for the first time ever!

 

Coming up in the next level (Level 3, Scenes)

  • Longer scenes.
  • Game of the scene.
  • Scene structure.
  • Further character and relationships.
  • Spotting what a scene is about.
  • Escalating emotions and other fun things in a scene.
  • Patterns in scenes.
  • Reincorporating to find an ending

 

Most of all…….

 

Playing and having lots of fun with improv!

faqs

From 19th July 2021 there are no legal restrictions on our classes or shows, however some of our covid safety measures will be staying in place and others will be gradually phased out rather than being removed all at once. This is so we can keep improv fun while also keeping safety in classes and shows. We will also be able to adjust month by month and rollback changes if needed.

>> Covid safety and booking flexibility

For additional FAQs please see list below: