Hoopla's 20th Anniversary Improv Festival!
Hoopla are turning 20 years old in Spring 2026 and we’re celebrating with a MASSIVE festival of improv shows, workshops, jams, socials, parties and more!
We will be celebrating the past, the present and the future of improv and having a huge laugh. You are all invited and there is LOADS to get involved with.
Many thanks to everyone involved with Hoopla!
The History of Hoopla
From old High School friends running an improv practice session above a pub back in 2006, to the UK’s 1st Improv Theatre and UK’s Biggest Improv School!
20th Anniversary Shows
1000s of improvisers and groups have performed at Hoopla over the last 20 years!
This Spring we’re having a massive CELEBRATION of improv and bringing together shows from the past, present and future of Hoopla in one big festival.
Many of these improvisers performed their early shows at Hoopla back in the day, before performing on The West End, TV & Radio, and it’s an honour to welcome them back this season as part of Hoopla’s 20th Anniversary festival!
Many thanks to our Producer Angela Pollard for putting together such an incredible line up!
All shows are at Hoopla at The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.
RH & Friends 20th Anniversary Special!
Friday 10th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
It’s so exciting to open our 20th Anniversary festival with The RH & Friends!
The RH Experience have been with Hoopla since back in 2008, when we bumped into each other putting up posters after coincidentally choosing the same venue for our shows at exactly the same time.
They were born funny and we immediately teamed up and have been working together ever since.
Conor Jatter, Tom Webster and Luke Spillane from RH were coming to Hoopla’s original drop-in workshops in Balham (they were even funny on the tube on the way there) and have been performing monthly with Hoopla ever since. RH & Friends is one of our most popular shows!
Praise for previous shows:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Three Weeks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Ten Eighty
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Joke Pit
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Broadway Baby
Impropera! & Whoop Ass!
Saturday 11th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
An improvised opera, made up on the spot, with the help of audience suggestions along the way.
Featuring Comedy Store Player and Hoopla teacher Niall Ashdown!
With hugely successful shows in London’s West End, at the Edinburgh Fringe and across Europe, Impropera have an international reputation for their unique mix of virtuoso musicianship, agile wit and ingenious storytelling.
“Rising to the audience’s every challenge, the company quickly weave a plot of brilliant ingenuity, embroider it with musical parody and bring wonder and joy to all.” – The Sunday Times.
“The perfect operatic pick me up.” – The Independent.
“It’s a hugely entertaining musical show…riotously good fun.” – The Telegraph.
“Indescribably Funny.” – The Wall Street Journal.
“Beware you can get addicted to Impopera.” – BBC Radio 3.
PLUS
Whoop Ass! We are gathering an amazing cast of improvisers to put on a hilarious games spectacular!
Show Up & My Sons & Kerfuffle
Thursday 16th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Show Up: Your new favourite funny musical that hasn’t been invented yet! Show Up improvised comedy musical take the audience’s suggestions and in real time make a brilliant hilarious story with genuinely beautiful catchy songs you’ll be singing in the shower the next day and onwards! Each musical has only one night run, so you’ll be hooked to come and see a new one each show!
“Genuinely outstanding! I can’t get over how brilliant it was!” Jonathan Lis (Jeremy Vine Show)
“I couldn’t believe it was improvised – brilliant songs and so hilarious!” Izzy Mant (Comedian, producer of Toast Of London and Cuckoo, tv comedy writer)
Dan Attfield, Jonny Briers, and Will Dixon present MY SONS!
Three experienced musicians and improvisers, with one extra thing in common – they’ve all played backing guitar for other improv groups. But now it’s time for them to take the limelight! Their show was first performed at the Hoopla Improv Marathon!
Plus
Kerfuffle! A Hoopla house team born online towards the end of lockdown and burst onto the Hoopla stage as soon as they were allowed to with their short fun antics! Celebrate Hoopla’s Anniversary with the revival of their popular fringe show Scenes From A Hat! Games and silliness, starring Hats. Lots of hats. So many hats. Do you like hats? We do!
Suki Webster presents One Night Only! & Giant Steps!
Friday 17th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Some of the finest improvisers around join forces for a night of funny and fast-paced improv games and scenes in One Night Only. Delightful daftness and laugh-out-loud fun!
Our team are all super fans of Suki Webster so we’ve booked her in and asked her to produce a show just for Hoopla! Suki is a massive inspiration to us and appeared in so many great improv shows including:
– Paul Merton and Suki Webster’s Improv Show at The Comedy Store with guests including David Tennant, Stephen Mangan, Sue Perkins and more.
– Paul Merton’s Impro Chums.
– The Comedy Store Players.
– One Night Only with Eddie Izzard, Neil Mullarkey and Stephen Frost.
– Guest Speaker at Hoopla.
“This is improvised comedy at its finest, the best in the business” – Three Weeks
“Webster is hilarious” – The Guardian
“Funny Sexy Dirty all at the same time” – Eddie Izzard
“You could see this every night and never tire of it…they continue to be the finest components of the improv art” – Daily Mail
Plus
GIANT STEPS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ improvised comedy meets live jazz!
One of Hoopla’s regular teams created by Hoopla teachers Conor Jatter and Max Dickins!
A night of improvised comedy inspired by improvised music… and improvised music inspired by improvised comedy!
Featuring scenes and sketches all inspired by a live band and some of the best-improvised comedians and musicians on the circuit.
Comediasians & Friends 20th Anniversary Special
Saturday 18th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Comediasians are the UK’s premier pan-Asian improv group, and they’re on a mission to bring laughs from the diasporASIA to the UK comedy scene. They do a playful mix of short and long form improv and host a monthly night of Asian improv comedy at Hoopla.
We’re super proud to welcome this show to the Hoopla 20th Anniversary Improv Festival.
Back in the day at Hoopla we got bored of cultural diversity in theatre being just a box ticking exercise. We wanted to go beyond a boring diversity policy, and looked at it as more of an ongoing diversity FESTIVAL where the culturally diverse shows were also the BEST shows! Comediasians is an amazing success story from this movement. They have created a commercially successful show that is one of Hoopla’s most popular nights and sells out every month!
Glamazon Prime, CSI: Crime Scene Impro & Burn the Script
Monday 20th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
The Glamazon team behind the critically acclaimed and award-winning NOTFLIX are back with a brand new show – and it’s everything you never knew you desperately needed. Ever watched your favourite film and thought: “This needs more songs… and way more women”? Yeah. That doesn’t sit right with us. So we’re fixing that.
The all-female dream team of Glamazon Prime will transform your favourite film into a high-energy, completely improvised musical comedy — made up on the spot, just for you.
“Seemingly effortless comedy… and really impressive vocal talents” ★★★★★ Broadway World “Roaringly funny and incredibly talented” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby “Give them the Tony Award right now” ★★★★ A Pint and a Play
CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation: The award-winning comedy murder mystery where no one knows whodunnit – not even the cast!
C.S.I is delighted to perform as part of Hooplas 20th anniversary. Many of our team trained at Hoopla and continue to perform regularly there with other shows, including CSI, and a couple are now Hoopla teachers too!
Leicester Comedy Festival 2023: ‘Best improv/musical’ award
Colchester Fringe 2024: ‘The Comedy Award’
“So funny it would be a crime to miss it!” ★★★★★ (Curtain Call Reviews)
“A truly fantastic show that you will talk about for years to come” ★★★★★ (Theatre & Tonic)
“Quick thinking & fast paced. A spectacular must see” ★★★★★ (Bunbury Magazine)
“A novel idea, executed superbly” ★★★★★ (The Wee Review)
“Doubles as a hysterical murder mystery & a tight witty improv show” ★★★★ (Fringe Biscuit)
Plus
Burn The Script: The team met and form through Hoopla courses and have been going from strength to strength!
They’ll be opening the night with their short form show that takes Hollywood’s most iconic films and flips them on their head, mixing everyday life with blockbuster mayhem.
Their members have been in Olivier award-winning troupes such as Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, and have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, The London 50-Hour Improvathon and more.
Mixer show!
Tuesday 21st April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
The Mixer show was created to make space for new & up-and- coming improv teams! But it’s more than just another improv show. Enjoy watching up-and-coming improv acts and get to know improvisers and audience members in the pub after the show.
Next Level Sketch with Julia Masli, Jonathan Oldfield, Susan Harrison and Jess Carrivick.
Wednesday 22nd April 2026, show 7:30pm- 9:45pm with interval.
Next Level Sketch night was born out of Hoopla’s Comedy Sketch courses with Gemma Arrowsmith back in 2019! Students found there weren’t many sketch nights in London you could submit ideas to, so they created their own night at Hoopla! And it’s been going from strength to strength!
This April’s show will be another ludicrously wonderful lineup of new sketches and outlandishly brilliant guest stars.
Featuring international clown superstar Julia Masli, brilliant character comedian and improviser Susan Harrison, superb comedy writer and performer Jonathan Oldfield, and BBC New Comedy Awards Finalist and beloved friend of the show Jess Carrivick.
More details TBC, but book early and book often: this one is going to be a cracker.
Hoopla House Party: Gamez, The Descendants, Michelle and Track 96
Thursday 23rd April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
It’s been a joy to run so many house teams at Hoopla over the years and we’re bringing together some of our longest running house teams for a night of improv fun.
GÄMEZ: Bunches of ridiculous improvised comedy games and nonsense from London’s top short-form improv group and Hoopla house team, GÄMEZ!
The Descendants: Join the Hoopla Impro narrative long-form house team as they will be creating a hilarious and unpredictable tale, featuring twists, turns, romance, betrayal and redemption.
Michelle: One of London’s top long-form improv comedy groups, Michelle lifts the lid on a location of YOUR choosing! See everyday places in a new light, stuffed with a whirlwind of absurd characters, emotional confrontations and quick-witted comedy from start to finish.
Track 96: Track 96 is a London-based Hip Hop Improv group that takes a word and transforms it into a world of rhyme and rhythm. Give them a suggestion, add a beat, and they’ll take care of the rest.
Do The Right Scene – Special Delivery – 20th Anniversary Special
Friday 24th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Special Delivery is a POC improv comedy show that has been bringing the big laughs for over 8 years making it the longest-running POC improv show in the country run by the UK’s first all Black improv team Do The Right Scene.
Do The Right Scene are a fast-paced improv group comprised of Black improvisers, sketch performers, stand-ups and character comedians with credits on Radio 4, Comedy Central, BBC 3 and BBC1. They’ll be bringing you a night of standup and improv featuring some of the hottest talents on the circuit!
After setting up at Hoopla over 8 years ago Do The Right Scene rapidly became one of our main weekend shows and run sold out shows every month with performers who have gone on to perform on TV and Radio. They’ve created a vibrant community of improvisers, actors and comedians and it’s an honour to have them as part of our 20th Anniversary celebrations!
Hoopla’s Afternoon Soirée
Saturday 25th April 2026, doors open at 2:45pm, show 3pm – 6pm (please note earlier show than normal).
Loads of amazing shows from the Past, Present and Future of Hoopla performing back to back all day!
You can come and go as you please and see as many shows as you want, whenever you want over the afternoon. You don’t have to see them all but you are welcome to give it a go!
The bar and beer garden will also be open!
Grand Theft Impro, Dreamweaver Quartet AND Abandoman!
Saturday 25th April 2026, doors open at 6:45pm, show 7pm – 9pm with interval (please note earlier show than normal).
Grand Theft Impro
Grand Theft Impro were performing before Hoopla even started, and were already a well established group back in 2006. They were hugely inspiring to us as they were one of best improv groups to see when we were starting out, and still are, and it’s an HONOUR to have them perform at Hoopla!
They were also some of the earliest teachers of many the original team at Hoopla, and without them we probably wouldn’t have existed.
“Simply marvellous” – Time Out.
“GTI are at the forefront of the revival of impro in the UK” – The Guardian.
Dreamweaver Quartet
Dreamweaver Quartet collect the strangest dreams from the audience and use them to inspire improvised songs, music, dance and storytelling in one amazingly creative whirlwind of an improv show. They were originally produced at The Nursery Theatre, an influential theatre on the birth of the modern London improv scene, and the group also feature many of Hoopla’s teachers.
Abandoman
Ireland’s finest hip hop musical comedian, Rob Broderick, a.k.a. Abandoman!
We were lucky enough to know Rob even before he was Abandoman, he was coming to Hoopla’s drop-in workshops back in 2006 and we’d also improvise with him at The Crunchy Frog Collective (another incredibly influential group on the birth of the modern improv scene). All the stand-ups back then were telling him to stick to scripts, but he had a feeling that improv was going to be massive and it was amazing to see him absolutely FLY with improvised hip hop and his Abandoman show take off!
“Broderick has us in the palm of his hand from the minute he starts until the very last mic drop” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
“Flight of the Conchords meets 8 mile” ★★★★ Chortle
These groups sell out every single show at Hoopla so we recommend booking ahead!
Festival MEGA Jam!
Monday 27th April 2026, doors open at 7pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Join us on stage to celebrate 20th Anniversary in our Improv Mega Jam! Open to anyone to sign up and perform, and also open to audience to come and watch.
In true Hoopla fashion we will start with a warm-up to help everyone get to know each other and then move on to a variety of fun games, scenes and show formats over the jam. Will there be games and surprises inspired by Hoopla’s History?? Come find out!
Three Grown Ups Sitting Round a Table! & Music Box!
Tuesday 28th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Three amazing improvisers from some of the best improv shows in the land (Austentatious, Showstoppers, The Comedy Store Players and Improbable) unite for a brand new show at Hoopla!
This is what Hoopla is all about! By staying independent over the years we’ve had the freedom to bring improvisers together and create new things. It’s been great to have an ongoing connection with the cast from Showstoppers, Austentatious and The Comedy Store Players over the last 20 years. They regularly perform at Hoopla when trying out new things and producing new shows, as well as teach classes. We were even lucky enough to host the early shows of Austentatious and Showstoppers on the Hoopla stage back in the day and it’s a pleasure to welcome them back as part of our 20th Anniversary Festival!
Ruth Bratt (Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and The Comedy Store Players), Lee Simpson (The Comedy Store Players and Improbable) and Lauren Shearing (Austentatious and Showstopper! The Improvised Musical) join forces for this Hoopla debut of Three Grown Ups Sitting Round A Table, an entirely improvised show with real props and real humans.
Plus
Music Box! One of Hoopla’s regular musical groups!
Founded in 2009 Music Box are one of the longest established and most loved musical improv companies on the London comedy circuit. Music Box make up a different one act comedy musical every show based on the suggestions of a ‘title’ and a ‘location’ from the audience .
Songs and lyrics are plucked from thin air. Stories and characters are created on the spot. Past musicals have taken place inside a Wetherspoons, the Orient Express, The Depths of Hell, a World War II bunker and on board the Death Star. They have been performing long form improvised comedy across the globe since 2010 including sell out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe.
“Lively, sharp, superior improvised fun!” (Remote Goat)
“This one’s brilliant” (Fringe Guru)
Mini Showstoppers! The Improvised Musical! & The Inflatables & Hell Yeah! SOLD OUT
Wednesday 29th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
See four Showstopper players up close and personal as they perform their Olivier Award winning improv show in 60 minutes on the Hoopla stage!
Showstoppers started in 2008, including many of their early shows at Hoopla! That’s right we were lucky enough to have them perform regularly on the Hoopla stage back in the day and it’s an honour to welcome them back to Hoopla as part of our 20th Anniversary Festival.
Right from the first show it was clear they were destined for the West End. They sounded amazing, performed incredible stories, and arrived in amazing costumes as a TEAM. They were hugely inspirational to the early improv scene, and still are, inspiring a level of quality and professionalism that helped take the UK improv scene up a level and ignite an improv revolution across the whole community.
Since then Showstoppers have had 11 sell-out years at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, two West End runs, an Olivier award and a BBC Radio 4 series.
★★★★★ “Incredible… so polished it defies belief.” The Daily Telegraph
★★★★★ “If this is what improv can do, you wonder why anyone bothers writing anything down.” The Times
★★★★★ “Achingly funny… Worth seeing again and again.” Time Out Critics’ Choice
★★★★ “A success story that could run and run and never repeat itself.” Evening Standard
“Showstopper! The hit musical that’s made up every night” The Guardian
Plus!
The Inflatables! Turning your suggestions into mad quick-fire scenes and games.
★★★★★ “Everyone on stage demonstrated a strong ability to make interesting characters and develop humorous scenes. The Inflatables are masters of performing improv games. I’ve not seen anybody do this better.” (Midlands Improv)
And!
Hell Yeah! We’re Here, We’re Queer, We’re Improvised!
Fun, fearless and completely improvised. A super group of London’s hottest queer improv talent.
Expect a cast of powerhouse award-winning/rave reviewed queer performers, who in their own right sell out shows, push the arts forward and are seen/heard on the BBC, Channel 4, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hoopla Impro, Shakespeare’s Globe and The Comedy Store to name a few.
Cast: Jillian Ellis, Laura Evelyn, Alicia Ingram, Lisa Lynn and Francesca Reid!
LadyProv Presents 20th Anniversary Special
Thursday 30th April 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
LadyProv is celebrating Hoopla’s 20th Birthday by opening the legendary Hoopla Cupboard! What mysterious objects lurk inside? Nobody knows – until LadyProv pulls them out and spins them into hilarious improvised scenes before your eyes.
Hoopla techy Darren has also agreed to spill the beans on being behind the desk for gazillion student shows. Watch LadyProv bring the stories alive on stage!
Then it’s time for the Ultimate Hoopla Games Jam. Using the legendary Hoopla Games Encyclopaedia as our Game-o-metre, we’ll randomly select improv games for Jammers to jump in and play.
Expect chaos. Expect creativity. Expect big laughs.
Whoop Ass, Disco Disco, I’m Improv With You, and Crackd Mirror
Saturday 2nd May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Whoop Ass!
This is Hoopla’s regular fast and funny short-form improv show. Loads of games, massive laughs, all killer no filler!
Whoop Ass gathers together a different top cast every show from across the UK improv scene. This Bank Holiday we are going BIG with loads of our favourite chums plus special guests. Cast announced soon.
PLUS: Disco Disco, I’m Improv With You, and Crackd Mirror the improvised episode inspired by Black Mirror!
No Worries If Not, Velour, Not GCSE Drama & The Krayzies
Wednesday 6th May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
No Worries If Not: NWIN has got into the habit of taking well known games and messing them about a bit… then apologising for it! The whole team are thrilled to be taking part in 20th Anniversary Festival. Hoopla is what brought us together and it’s a joy to be part of this special moment!
Velour: A team made up of award-winning comedians, actors and stalwarts of the London improv scene. Velour takes an adjective from our audience for each of the players, before delving into grounded longform scenes that spike into silliness. Cast are: Liam Brennan, Jodie Irvine, Luke Brown, and Rory Donaldson.
The Krayzies: Crime, family, rivalry – The Krayzies invite you into the criminal underworld, and it’s WAYYY sillier than you’d think. It’ll make the Long Good Friday look more like the Wrong Trousers.
“We’re really excited to bring The Krayzies to the event – we’re a fast-paced, character-driven take on gangster films and can’t wait to be part of Hoopla’s celebrations.”
Not GCSE Drama: Created for a Hoopla Improvathon and is still going strong in London and on the international improv circuit.
5* comedy take on the very serious Theatrical Drama exam we all do at school. War, Opression, Global Warming the plight of kittens, how you feel about apple pie – no issue is to big or too small for this very serious theatrical comedy – Candidate number 12345.
Breaking & Entering Comeback Tour!
Friday 8th May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Lauren Shearing & Maria Peters reunite on a comeback tour for one night only.
Joined by megastars from the Improv & comedy world you won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to see the one of the OG duos of the London improv scene.
The Maydays & Hoopla Teacher Show!
Saturday 9th May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
This is the first improv group that Hoopla’s Director (Steve Roe) ever saw, plus the first ever improv company he trained with (teachers John Cremer and Katy Schutte)!
Established in 2004, The Mayday were one of the first companies to bring US Chicago style long-form to the UK and have been hugely influential to Hoopla and the wider UK improv scene. It’s a pleasure to have them at Hoopla’s 20th Anniversary Festival!
“One of the best improvised shows out there…a must see.” Chortle
“I defy anyone to find a better improvisational theatre troupe.” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby,
“This extraordinary improvised performance has to be seen to be believed.” The Reviews Hub
“Emotionally touching, incredibly funny, rich in narrative twists and charm.” ★★★★★ The Reviews Hub
“Dark and hilarious!” ★★★★ The Wee Review
“The Maydays are England’s vanguard of long-form improvisation.” Jason Chin, iO Chicago.
“The Maydays are an improv ensemble firmly committed to artistic growth and challenge, unwilling to settle for simple being awesome. It makes them exciting to watch and a pleasure to work with.” Rich and Rebecca Sohn of The Annoyance, Chicago.
“They’re funny, confident, imaginative, charming and not afraid of making themselves look ridiculous. Go see them if you can.” Fringe Review
“First class improv-comedy” The Latest
Plus
The Hoopla Teacher Show! A team of Hoopla’s improv teachers perform a selection of their favourite games and formats from Hoopla’s improv courses.
The Actor’s Nightmare & Whoop Ass!
Friday 15th May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
The Actor’s Nightmare! Directed and featuring Steve Steen (Whose Line Is It Anyway, Comedy Store Players, Blackadder) with a cast featuring members from Whose Line is it Anyway, Comedy Store Players, The Committee & Showstoppers!
An improvised play. From no suggestion this excellent cast attempt to improvise an entire play that wouldn’t look out of place at The National Theatre.
Plus
Whoop Ass! We are gathering an amazing cast of improvisers to put on a hilarious games spectacular!
Mixer show!
Wednesday 20th May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
The Mixer show was created to make space for new & up-and- coming improv teams! But it’s more than just another improv show. Enjoy watching up-and-coming improv acts and get to know improvisers and audience members in the pub after the show.
The School of Night & My Sons
Thursday 21st May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Dylan Emery from The School of Night was influential on the birth of Hoopla and also the wider UK improv scene. He was teaching lots of original Hoopla members at The Crunchy Frog Collective along with Alan Marriott, ran The Crunchy Frog Collective website that gave the UK the first taste of a nationwide improv community, and went on to co-found and co-direct Showstoppers The Improvised Musical.
The School of Night has been improvising Shakespeare since they were formed by theatre maverick Ken Campbell at the request of Mark Rylance at Shakespeare’s Globe in London in 2005. Their shows are wild and extravagant celebrations of theatre as they attempt to extemporise one of Shakespeare’s lost plays, inspired by audience suggestions.
“Fearsomely able improvisers” ★★★★ Financial Times
“Uproarious, intelligent, laugh-a-minute fare” ★★★★ Telegraph
“These improvisers are undoubtedly masters of their craft…. the thinking person’s improv” ★★★★ Whats On Stage
“The Bard has never been this much fun” ★★★★ Three Weeks
“You cannot help but stare in awe as they perform” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
“Quick witted and well-read performers… A superbly structured show that is well worth checking out.” ★★★★ British Theatre Guide
“This is by far some of the most intelligent and hilarious comedy you are likely to see at the Fringe.” ★★★★ Hairline Reviews, Edinburgh Festival
Plus
Dan Attfield, Jonny Briers, and Will Dixon present MY SONS!
Rice and Spice: The Global Majority Improv mashup!
Saturday 23rd May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Members from the UK’s leading Global majority improv teams; Comediasians, Do the Right Scene & Arabian Nights Live combine forces for one night only, in a never-before-seen mashup to honour Hoopla’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
It’s the ultimate celebration of the cultural heritage of modern Britain and the migrant experience. Food, identity, comedy, the fear of your Auntie’s slipper…They’ve got it all.
Nick Oram presents Improv Anything, BRA, The Victor & Twenty Twenty Vision
Tuesday 26th May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Improv Anything created and hosted by Nick Oram! Join some of the UK’s top improvisers as they’re challenged to create comedy scenes inspired by everything from Whatsapp messages, to celebrity videos to modern art. Will there be another cameo from Neighbours’ Dr Karl?!
The Victor: Born out of the Hoopla house teams! A unique improvised theatre experience that weaves live poetry and improv. Loosely based on a poetry slam, an ensemble alternates between poems created on the spot based on audience suggestions and improv scenes inspired by the poems. Surreal, funny, and poetic!
BRA: Caught in the spotlight, one improviser takes to the stage alone! In this gleeful long-form format, with their BRA pals close by, they are far from unsupported.
Cue a smorgasbord of offstage offers, sound effects, voiceovers and more . The result is a joyful, mischievous and unpredictable comedy that could go anywhere.
Twenty Twenty Vision: Rhys Collier and Nick Oram have been messing about on the Hoopla stage from (almost) the beginning. They first met 16ish years ago during the early days of Hoopla, and quickly became best pals. It was in St Mary’s Hall in Balham on a Thursday evening at a Hoopla drop-in that Steve told us we should do a show together. So we did. And have been performing together ever since, with DNAYS and, every now and then, as a duo too.
They were even been best man at each other’s wedding. How beautiful that a Hoopla drop-in workshop all those years ago brought them together….
One day they’ll probably divorce their wives and marry each other, but for now they’d love to do a special show for Hoopla’s 20th anniversary.
Twenty improv scenes in twenty minutes. Has anything more demanding ever been attempted on the Hoopla stage? Yes. But this is still quite impressive and will be very, very funny.
Grand Theft Impro & Enemies
Saturday 30th May 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Improvised comedy with one of the UK’s longest running improv groups.
Join Grand Theft Impro as they bring together some of their swornest enemies to improvise with them.
“Simply marvellous” – Time Out.
“GTI are at the forefront of the revival of impro in the UK” – The Guardian.
Their enemy guest act:
These Folk is a funny, beautiful and heartwarming show performed by two of the UK’s most experienced improvisers. Inspired by suggestions from the audience, Justin Brett and Susan Harrison create an entirely improvised, magical, song-filled musical folk tale. Everything is made up on the spot, the characters, the folklore, the story, the harmonies, the lyrics and the music. These Folk seeks to uncover the mythic in the mundane; the lyrical in the local. Expect laughs, moving moments, magic and delight.
The Pretend Company
Saturday 6th June 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Beautiful. Hilarious. Spontaneous.
The Pretend Company are a London-based theatre company specialising in unscripted and improvised work that is as. funny and silly as it is heart-felt and meaningful.
Their team of international improvisers have wowed audiences all over the world, starred in Olivier Award winning shows, and are committed to bringing the best of the world’s improv to London stages.
Phyllida, Bob, Your Uncle, The World’s Great Band & Whoop Ass
Friday 12th June 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Phyllida: She wants to share her new album with you! It’s inspired by months of soul searching, emotional discovery, messing around on the piano… and the audience’s ideas. You may smile, you may laugh, you may cry, you might even sing along…
Bob, Your Uncle: Improvises hilarious, informative and downright silly scenes based on idioms and phrases from you, the audience! The cast meet through being part of a Hoopla House Team at the start of 2025. They genuinely love performing together. They’re a group of people who are slightly obsessed with improv, deeply curious, and who simply enjoy spending time with one another. That joy and trust onstage is a huge part of the vibe of the show: playful, connected, and full of discovery.
The World’s Great Band in The World, Ever: Back together for one final unplugged concert (based completely on audience suggestions)! Relive the excitement of their greatest hits (made up on the spot), and the juicy gossip (also improvised on the spot) about the World’s favourte band in the World, that the world has ever seen, ever. Will they let their sorted past catch up with them? Will the several breakups and reunions be forgotten? Unlikely!
Plus WHOOP ASS: We are gathering an amazing cast of improvisers to put on a hilarious games spectacular!
Impromptu Shakespeare and Teacher Show
Saturday 13th June 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Impromptu Shakespeare: The Bard is back. With story and verse created in the moment, this irreverent ensemble (featuring a stellar cast of performers) whip up an original, improvised Shakespeare play inspired by audience suggestions. Packed with priceless wit and lyrical smarts, star-crossed lovers and a dash of double-crossing, they do the Bard proud with a brand new hit every time.
“Shakespeare from the hip; ingenious and very funny” Will Gompertz, BBC Arts Editor
“Simply sublime… side-splittingly hilarious” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
“Intelligent, funny, all of the adjectives for brilliant” ★★★★★ Pocket Size Theatre
“Impressive” ★★★★ Three Weeks
Plus!
The Hoopla Teacher Show: A team of Hoopla’s improv teachers perform a selection of their favourite games and formats from Hoopla’s improv courses.
Teresa & Folusho present Untold Stories
Friday 19th June 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
Teresa & Folusho present ‘Untold Stories’ is a joyous comedy improv night starring incredible improvisers like Teresa Senyah, Folusho Falegan, Monica Gaga, Alicia Mugford, Jillian Ellis and more!
Expect laughter, games, and scenes shedding light on stories and experiences of black female identifying improvisers that aren’t usually voiced on the improv stage.
Get ready for an unforgettable night as we celebrate Hoopla’s 20th Anniversary!
Geekeasy
Saturday 27th June 2026, doors open at 7:45pm, show 8pm – 10pm with interval.
The legendary Hoopla Geekeasy opens its doors for the first time in nearly 10 years as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations. Curated by improv veterans Project2 (Katy Schutte, Chris Mead, Fred Deakin) Geekeasy will always revolve around a nerdy topic of interest. For this show, we’ve picked a subject close to the hearts of an army of vinyl collectors, late night radio DJs and super groupies of every description – MUSIC. Expect games, presentations, sketches and competitions – as well as headlining sets from the ridiculously-talented My Sons, as well as Project2 themselves.
Project2 have performed at Hoopla from the very earliest of days. Indeed it was Hoopla that first let us perform regularly, invited us to teach classes and championed us at every stage. We’re particularly pleased to be presenting Geekeasy, in all its chaotic glory. We used to run the night monthly, and we’re intending to bring back all the best bits – parody songs, Presentation Wars, competitions and a joyful blast of full on scifi improv madness.
Jess & Carwyn: Do New Things
Wednesday 8th July 2026, doors open at 7:30pm, show 7:45pm – 10pm with interval. (please note earlier start than normal)
Welcome to a night that covers all three sides of the comedy coin: stand-up, character, and improv!
With over a decade of improv experience between them, Jess & Carwyn are delighted to take part in the 20-year anniversary festival!
They met when they both joined the Hoopla House Team in 2024 and haven’t been able to shake each other off since.
Outside of improv, Carwyn is a stand-up comedian and Jess is a character comedian, so they thought… what better way to celebrate than by bringing some new material to their home stage at Hoopla?
The evening, Jess & Carwyn: Do New Things, will be supported by their very own improv team, No Worries if Not.
MC Hammersmith
Saturday 18th July 2026, doors open at 9:20pm, show 9:30pm – 10:30pm (please note later show than normal).
Will Naameh (MC Hammersmith) first did Musical Improv on a course with Maria Peters at Hoopla!
MC Hammersmith is a multi-award winning hip hop comedian. He writes and performs original hip hop comedy tracks, and performs improvised freestyle rap comedy based on audience suggestions.
He is the world’s leading rapper to ever emerge from the ghetto of middle class west London. Now based in Edinburgh, he performs across the UK and internationally to sold out tours and has millions of views online.
“Turns stories into stomach-achingly funny raps as easily as breathing” ★★★★★ EdFringeReview
“Tear streaming laughter” ★★★★★ Press and Journal
“Bold and hilarious freestyle rapper. His fearlessness is a joy to watch!” Neil Patrick Harris
“So funny. So talented!” Santan Dave
“GENIUS!” Dawn French
“Super corny delivery but, like, technically, he can rap” Scru Face Jean
Our main theatre in London Bridge is wheelchair accessible using a stair climber machine.
20th Anniversary Classes
We are going to have a selection of one-off classes put together especially for our 20th Anniversary season this Spring. Details coming soon!
- BOOK NOW
TJ and Dave Online Q & A
TJ & Dave help launch Hoopla's 20th anniversary season! Online Q & A session with TJ & Dave. 2nd APRIL 2026.
Improv Courses
We are also running more improv courses than ever this season with loads to get involved with.
- BOOK NOW
Level 1: Beginners improv course
- BOOK NOW
Level 2: Performance improv course (with show)
- BOOK NOW
Level 3: Scenes improv course (with show)
- BOOK NOW
Level 4: Long-form course (with show)
PLUS lots of Level 5 Advanced Improv Courses including:
Story, Stagecraft, Sci-Fi B-Movies, Culture Flow, Game of the Scenes, Super Short-Form, Improvised Singing, Advanced Long-Form, Harold, Character and more!
Socials, Jams and Parties
Help us celebrate 20 years of improv! Everyone invited! Details coming soon!
The capital’s best improv. The UK’s first improv comedy club.
The shows are amazing, combining spontaneity with raw talent to create an experience you won't find anywhere else.
The finest off-the-cuff troupes on the circuit.
We had an impromptu evening here yesterday. Brilliantly funny, different and welcoming. We will return.
If improv 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.
Hoopla is a great place to see shows, hangout and eat! Lovely food and good booze. Five stars all round.
Looking for an affordable, spontaneous and fun night? Look no further. Introducing Hoopla Improv Comedy Club!
I have seen many shows at Hoopla’s Improv Comedy Club over the last 3 years and it’s always a grand night out! They have a diversity of performances with top class and up-and-coming groups on stage. What makes this place great is not just the shows though but the audience which always has a happy vibe.
Chemistry between cast meant it was like funniest night amongst friends.
A hilarious, high energy show full of great songs, clever plot twists, and weird and wonderful characters.
Never a dull night at Hoopla. Extremely talented performers and a room full of friendly smiling faces. Where better to spend an evening!
Poetic and contemporary, the hour of entertainment flies by.
This contemporary off-the-cuff comedy will make you laugh your heart out!
The group accomplished the show with panache, wit and an impressive degree of professionalism.
Amazing shows and great ambiance at the very nice looking bar downstairs ! def recommend 🙂
Inventive improvisation and clever comedy!
A quick paced, inventive and witty show.
Hoopla is an incredible place - it’s one big party and everyone is invited.
Lively, sharp, superior improvised fun!
A lovely, funny and slick night of improvised comedy by a talented group.
Top notch improvised comedy shows and courses.
Left me helpless with laughter…. They created a storyline which actually meant something and characters who made me care.
Keeling the crowd into fits of laughter.