Public speaking is one of the most sought-after employability skills in the modern working world (CBI, 2019). Yet, studies have shown that public speaking is one of the most commonly held fears. According to one survey in the United States, the fear of public speaking came ahead of the fear of death! As the comic[…]
Feedback is vital for finding out what’s good and bad about an idea and our behaviours. However, feedback is also something that we often dread. The prospect of giving someone feedback can be a gut wrenching feeling and it can feel even worse to receive it! It is unfortunate that something of such value can[…]
We talked to Freya C. who started doing improv with us this year. After taking some time off of work at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Freya found herself in a Black Mirror-esque world where all of her interactions with her peers were online. In our chat, Freya shared her experiences of coming to[…]
How to act like an improviser to own the room… For most people, the idea of getting on-stage in front of an audience with the aim of making them laugh fills them with dread. Throw in the stipulation that they must have no script, and many people would run a mile. This, however, is exactly[…]
Kate Heward is an account manager, business owner and player in the Hoopla Impro House Team Michelle. Read on as Kate talks about giving herself permission to be big when it comes to ideas and how improv helped her to create an LGBTQ+ clothing brand. Hi Kate! Tell us a little bit about your[…]
How to make better friends and get past small talk according to a professional improviser
Feb 14, 2023
I think improv is relevant far beyond the stage because improvisation is simply the art of acting without a script. And how often are we forced to do that in our everyday life? We are improvising all of the time! Especially in conversations or when we are trying to build new relationships. Great conversationalists look[…]
I improvise comedy for a living. You’ve probably seen people like me on TV shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway? We go on stage in groups of four or five and try to make an audience laugh, but with absolutely no script whatsoever. The audience shout out suggestions and from that point we are[…]
Improvisation and Children’s Stories sound like a match made in heaven! Fascinated to see how those two different worlds collide, we talked to Story Producer Mara Alperin of Wonderbly, a company which specialises in creating personalised children’s books. She told us about the benefits of ‘Yes And’ in the creative process, how to counter our[…]
So. I’ve been reflecting all the virtual communication that I’ve been involved with, Zoom calls, webinars and more. Here are the key things I’ve learnt so far… Don’t forget to be human! It’s a bit weird doing a zoom call or webinar, especially if you share your screen. You are probably sitting in your kitchen,[…]
We talked to Jennifer Longden, lead HR in a Fintech company as well as a Drama graduate. She talked to us about how improv changed her direction in life as well as how it’s changed her perception of work. I currently work as the lead HR in a Fintech company. These days I[…]
Chris Rosser is an owner and principal of a Stagecoach Performing Arts School in Reading East. The success of Chris’ business has also allowed him to explore the world of comedy, writing sketches for Hoopla Impro as well as being cast in one of our resident house teams: Michelle. Most recently, Chris has taken[…]
Improvisation isn’t just about quick wit and spontaneous performances; it’s a transformative skill that can go beyond the stage, bringing profound benefits to everyday life and workplaces. Improv contains many useful lessons and skills that can help you: Be more creative Listen better Become more mentally agile Improve spontaneity Enhance collaboration Embrace failure and learn[…]