This year is a very special one in the world of improv in the United Kingdom this year as Hoopla Impro in London turns twenty years old! The whole of April and May there are many shows on to celebrate this gigantic number. To talk about everything Hoopla I caught up with Steve Roe the founder.

Over the years I have spoken to Steve on many occasions but this time it felt incredibly special so wanted to celebrate in a two part interview.

Over the past twenty years, what have been the key ways you have developed your own improvement style? 

For my own improv I really like going back and practicing fundamentals, I really regret it when I stop doing that. So things like listening and yes and are always important. On top of that I would also say personally for me Meisner Technique and Clowning are really helpful. So I try to do that regularly. Also keeping alcohol low and caffeine low and exercise high, helps me be in the right mood for shows and teaching. 

In a world where social media is taking over the world, why is improv still so relevant? 

It does feel like it’s taking over the world when I’m on social media, it can feel so important and take over too much for me. But then when I’m not on social media it doesn’t feel like it is taking over the world at all. I’ve had to be really strict now about turning my phone off for big chunks of time, turning it over and putting it in a different room. I got totally addicted to doom scrolling and it didn’t help anybody! I think improv is in the real world, in the moment, with real people, with plan, with real emotions. That’s incredibly important. 

What have been some of the most Innovative acts you have seen in Improv in the past twenty years. 

Got a recent example of this! Recently we had Jiavani from Dropout TV guest in Dreamweaver Quarter at Hoopla. It was really interesting because she brought in a new audience who hadn’t been to Hoopla before, and afterwards they were raving about the Dreamweaver format. They take the story of an audience member’s dream, chat to the audience members, and then turn it into a beautiful dream based improvised musical. It was interesting as they have been at Hoopla every month for years, but a whole new audience with fresh eyes saw it is a whole new format that had just started that weekend. It made me appreciate that innovation is there all the time every single night. I love love love that new audiences are finding improv acts all the time. So yes, Dreamweaver Quarter is my favourite innovative act and I appreciate new audiences the other weekend for reminding me of that!

Tell us about the courses you have at Hoopla this year? 

Ohhhhhh exciting times!!! We have SO MUCH going on! Beginners courses for people with no experience who are totally new to improv, welcome! After that a level 2 where people get to perform on stage for the first time ever which is SO EXCITING! Then a Level 3 and Level 4 where people going into more detail about scenes and long-form. Then in our Advanced courses hot of the press we have teachers with us from Second City Toronto at the moment who are rocking the Advanced Long-Form world and helping people go up a level, plus guest teachers from iO Chicago and TJ and Dave are running an online session to kick start our 20th anniversary season!

If people want to get involved with Hoopla where can they go? 

www.hooplaimpro.com

You are having an event to celebrate twenty years – tell us about that! 

Oh my gosh it’s going EPICCCC over the whole of April and May and more we are having a massive 20 years anniversary festival with a huge season of improv featuring special guest acts, reunions of previous shows, whole new shows, jams, socials and loads of great improv parties! www.hooplaimpro.com/20

What acts do you have playing at the celebration? 

So many! Showstoppers the Improvised Musical! Abandoman! MC Hammersmith! Suki Webster bringing together friends from The Comedy Store Players and more! Cast members from Showstoppers, Austentatious and The Comedy Store working together in brand new shows! Whole afternoons of shows back to back! Late night crazy shows! New improvisers, old improvisers all working together celebrating the past, present and future of improv. Line up at  www.hooplaimpro.com/20

Why should people come to the anniversary shows? 

Because it is a MASSIVE LAUGH that is an amazing chance to see shows that usually perform in big venues including on the West End performing up close and personal. Also an amazing opportunity to see loads of shows back to back in one venue and immerse yourself in this amazing improv scene and feel ALIVE!

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