With the Improv season about to recharge and start again at full throttle in London, we thought it was a perfect time to sit down with the head of Hoopla, Steve Roe to have an in depth conversation all about the world of improv.

In the next week we have an exclusive 3 part interview where we talk about lots of different things.

INTERVIEW UPDATE FROM STEVE: The second half of this interview was done after I had got back from pub. Do people remember pubs before the internet? I was just in one, it was the same as 1996.

What’s your favourite improv game?

Ummmm, don’t know it depends on the situation and who I am with and what I’m using it for. I like Wild West, it’s the first game I use at the very start of every beginners course I teach and it kinda signals to people that the course is going to be fun and not too serious. There’s a snake in ma boot!

What show are you most looking forward to this season and why?

Hopefully we have North Coast the improvised hip hop musical from New York coming back because I thought they were great. They might be running workshops too. Currently trying to see if we can afford flights and things.

For people who haven’t been to an improv show before what can they expect? 

To shout out a random suggestion if they want to and have that turned into a play, sketch, story or musical to create a show there and then that is for the audience there and then that relects the world as it is there and then and to be seen never again anywhere else. Ommmmmmm.

What advice would you give for people that want to form an improv group? 

Agree on when you want to meet up to rehearse and ALL be there and turn the fuck up on time and don’t dick each other around with different levels of commitment and “oh I can’t make it because my job gave me a spreadsheet”. It’s easier than you think just be there on time and learn bit by bit.

You also advertise coaches to train troupes on your website – why do you think improv troupes should have a coach?

I don’t necessarily think they should have a coach it’s just an option. Some work with one, some without one, so I think just find what works. They are just there in case groups want an outside eye I’m not saying that is the only way to go. There is no right way to do improv it is a constantly changing evolving experimental art form.

How did the Miller become part of the improv community? 

Constant badgering from me. Year 1 “can we have one night a week” “ok”. Year 2 “can we have another night of the week” “no”. Year 3 “can we have another night of the week” “ok”. Year 4 “can we have another night of the week” “no”. etc.

For people who want to do an improv set or show how can they get involved?

Good question. There’s a confusingly large amount of ways now. Staring your own group and making something new is my favourite. Auditioning to get into an existing group. Going to jams and performing. There’s way more info than I get into an interview but there’s helpful stuff at http://www.hooplaimpro.com/how-to-form-an-improv-group.html

Where did you do your first improv lesson and what was you initial feeling about doing it?

Brighton. Garton House near Preston Park with John Cremer. Nervous. Locked myself in the loo for half an hour before and stood starting at the mirror saying “you can do this”.
What is your favourite form of improv and why?

I like it all but especially adventurous action packed improvised narrative or musicals.

 What’s the best thing about performing improv? 

Making the audience laugh. I know I should probably write connecting to my scene partner and stuff and I do like that but really for me I care about the audience most of all. If they are having a great time I’m happy, if they are not having a great time I hate myself for two weeks afterwards.

What’s been the best gig you have performed? 

I like the glory days of Music Box we had some good shows I’m happy with and at the time we were one of the first groups attempting long form narrative without anyone to steer us and I found that really exciting.

What’s been the worst? 

Errmmmm. Gosh I don’t know this question has just release inner demons and nightmares that I can’t pick one to answer with until they have finished fighting each other like cannibal rates on an abandoned ship.

What are your warm up routines / pre gig rituals that you do before going on stage?  

I have good ones and bad ones.

Bad ones – fiddling with every chair and moving it one inch to the left or right for no reason, pacing around, laying down outside on my back in car park, get obsessed with room temperature and air con.

Good ones – arriving early so I can lay down in venue by myself and let stresses from day out of my body, and then chill out and chat to the rest of the cast as they arrive.

There is a big improv scene in London – how do you fight off the competition or is it all mutual/no competition between the training companies? 

Good question! You are bloody good at this Holly. I have this stuck in big bold letters on my noticeboard in the office:

“A career in the arts is about pursuing what you love and believe in and has meaning for you, so if you find yourself competing you have already lost”

The other sign I have stuck up is:

“FOCUS ON YOUR AUDIENCE”

I don’t got onto any other improv company’s website, twitter or facebook and don’t follow on social media as I don’t find it healthy and it distracts me from what we’re trying to do. I know what we want to do and I just need to do that. If someone at Hoopla starts mentioning another improv company I stick my fingers in my ear and go LA LA LA LA LA.

“…I know I should probably write connecting to my scene partner and stuff and I do like that but really for me I care about the audience most of all…”-Steve Roe

Do you have any advice for people who want to get into improv / learn the comedy? 

Get a group together. Form a show. Perform the show. Learn from that. Repeat. That’s it. That’s more important than anything else and more important than any course. The people that perform lots and constantly learn and progress become the best. And don’t quit.

Who are your comedy/ improv inspirations ?

Rik Mayall. Baby Wants Candy. Dylan Emery. John Cremer. Jonathan Kay. The Maydays. Broad City. Louie. Josie Lawrence. Paul Merton. Debbie Price. Mr Morgan. Mr O Brien. Steve Tanner. Edgar Fernando. Oh gosh there are lots.

What’s in store for Hoopla for the rest of 2017? 

We’re doing our version of the Del Close Marathon in October with shows non stop from Friday night to Sunday night through day and night from 22nd October. That is going to be pretty intense.

If people want to see you perform Improv when is they next date they can see you?

Every Saturday from early September I’m going to be doing lots of stuff including our new show Faculty where the Hoopla teachers put on a different format once a month.