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.
On stage after level 2, gotta say we smashed it! Really recommend their courses ❤️ Our teacher created a safe environment for us to really gel and feel at ease and support each other.
I've now taken 2 classes with Hoopla, and have had the best experience in both. The Level 2 class with James was incredibly supportive and welcoming, and really helped to solidify performance techniques, stage craft, and just having loads of fun whilst improvising.
The capital’s best improv. The UK’s first improv comedy club.
Being completely new to the performing arts, the Hoopla courses & teachers did an excellent preparing me for my improv stage performance. My group and I all felt comfortable, confident, and well prepared for the show and the audience feedback was amazing!
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.
If you're looking for a place to push yourself out of your comfort zone in a way that's supportive, fun and outright hilarious then this is the place to do it! You'll form lifelong friends, and the skills you learn are transferable to the rest of life. Highly recommended.
The supportive atmosphere ensures that even complete beginners will have the confidence to grow their skills.
I loved the two courses I did with Hoopla - beginner and performance, both taught by James Witt, who is incredible at creating a safe and fun atmosphere to work in. If you're wondering whether you should sign up to a course: DO IT!! Thanks Hoopla!
Hoopla's workshops are supportive and collaborative.
Everywhere you look, huge grins suggest an enthusiasm and an attentiveness that is rarely seen in a course.
next available dates
Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 3rd September 2025, plus show on Thursday 23rd October 2025. BOOK
Every Saturday morning for 8 weeks from Saturday 20th September 2025, plus show on Saturday 15th November 2025. BOOK
Every Saturday afternoon for 8 weeks from Saturday 22nd March 2025 with Chris Mead, plus show on Wednesday 14th May 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 22nd April 2025 with Phoebe Kozinets, plus show on Thursday 12th June 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Thursday for 8 weeks from Thursday 8th May 2025 with James Irving, plus show on Thursday 3rd July 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 9th September 2025, 6pm – 8pm, plus show on Monday 3rd November 2025. BOOK
Every Thursday for 8 weeks from Thursday 11th September 2025, 8pm – 10pm, plus show on Thursday 6th November 2025. BOOK
Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 23rd April 2025 with Phoebe Kozinets, 6pm – 8pm, plus show on Saturday 14th June 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Saturday morning for 8 weeks from Saturday 25th January 2025, plus show on Saturday 22nd March 2025 with Liam Brennan. SOLD OUT
Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 22nd January 2025 with Melissa Parker, plus show on Thursday 20th March 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 13th January 2025 with Andrew Gentilli, plus show on Tuesday 4th March 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 14th January 2025 with James Whittaker, plus show on Wednesday 5th March 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 15th April 2025 with James Irving, plus show on Thursday 5th June 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 29th April 2025 with Susan Harrison, plus show on Thursday 19th June 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 23rd April 2025 with Jenny Rowe, plus show on Saturday 14th June 2025. SOLD OUT
Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 9th June 2025 with Mandeep Singh, plus show on Tuesday 29th July 2025. SOLD OUT
who runs the course
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 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
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
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
Sue performs in the Olivier award winning Showstoppers the Improvised Musical, Beings, and BAFTA winning sketch show Class Dismissed.
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
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 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
Is there a follow on after this course?
Yes. Our Level 3: Scenes Improv Course is the follow on to this course for real-life courses or we have a selection of other great online courses.
What comes before this course?
It’s best to do our Beginners Improv Course first if you haven’t done any improv before.
Who is this suitable for?
People who’ve done our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course already, or some other similar improv or acting workshops.
How much improv should I have done before doing this course?
Our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course, or a similar level of experience somewhere else in improv or acting. If you’re not sure please contact us to ask.
Do I have to start at level 1 if I have previous improv experience?
No, you are welcome to start at level 2 if you have previous improv experience, we don't force people to start from scratch if they have previous experience.
What if I can’t make every week?
As we’re forming a team over the course to do performances at the end it’s best not to miss more than one session over the course. If you think you’ll miss more than one session over the course please wait until another time to do the course. You may not be able to do the show if you miss more than one session. We aren't able to offer a replacement session for any missed workshops, as all of our courses and workshops tend to be booked up at least a month in advance and we have to manage class numbers in line with our covid safety.
What if I’m running late?
You’ll get the most from the course if you’re there each on time, and it helps us to form a team together. If you’re likely to be late regularly please don’t book the course.
Does it matter what teacher I have?
No. We all come from similar performing and training backgrounds. We train and plan the courses together to make sure it’s the same experience and we are covering the same topics.
What is the class size?
It used to be 16 but we're now limiting classes to 8-12 (depending on room size) so that physical distancing can stay in place. Online is limited to 12 people.
Do I have to perform in the show at the end?
No. The show is optional, and you’ll still get loads out of the course without doing the show.
How long is the show?
Around 35-40 minutes per half, with half the group performing in one half and half in the other. We split the group in half to make sure people get lots of stage time.
Can I invite people to the show?
Yes. It's free for the audience and they don't have to book in advance they just turn up on the night.
Where is the performance?
Shows are usually at Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields Road, London Bridge, SE1 3SS but on busy seasons are sometimes at other venues like The Horse in Waterloo.
How does the online version of the course work?
The workshops take place over zoom, with the login emailed each day before class. The end of course show is live streamed via our facebook page (@hooplaimpro) and facebook group (Hoopla Impro People). There is also then an option in-real-life meet up and show after the course, with dates decided by the group.
What makes this different from other courses?
Awesome showcase performance at the end, ongoing support and mentoring, taught by the performers at London’s leading improv comedy club with huge amounts of experience of performing, producing and directing successful shows.
What ages is the course for?
We are open to all ages over 18. Impro is suitable for all ages, we’ve had everyone from 18 to over 80. It’s physical but not more physical than normal every day life, and you are welcome to take a break whenever you want or sit out of exercises you don’t think would be suitable.
Are the courses accessible to people who use a wheelchair?
Yes. If you use a wheelchair please email us at time of booking and we will make sure your course is an accessible venue. We are happy to work with you to make all the games we play accessible.
Do you do prices for concessions?
Yes. We want to make improv available to everyone so don't want price to be a barrier. If you are a student, unemployed or on low income please contact us and we will be able to arrange something.
Is this course suitable for people who have English as a second language?
Our courses are very international so we do have many students who have English as a second language, but you will have to be fluent in English as we do a lot of improvised dialogue. If you’re not sure please contact us and we will advise the best course.