Men in Improv What’s that Hoopla? You’ve put a section on MEN in your Diversity and Inclusion policy? That’s right! Because Improv for Everyone means everyone and that includes men. Just because we are putting on additional shows and workshops to encourage more women into improv doesn’t mean we want less men. We love having[…]
Diversity Scholarships Hoopla aim to make impro open and accessible to everyone. Hoopla aim to provide a fun, friendly, encouraging, trusting, safe and supportive environment where people can enjoy learning, performing and watching improv. We believe that everyone can enjoy improv, whatever their background. We aim to provide the best training, resources, shows and community[…]
Questions Only Description In this game players can only speak in questions. The players get into two lines, and step forward for scenes in pairs. If they stumble or make a statement another player comes in and takes over. Example Location: Airport Player A: Have you got your boarding pass? Player B: Why should I[…]
Melodrama Description The improvisers attempt to play the most melodramatic scene possible based on a suggestion of the smallest most insignificant event from the audience. Playing Tips Melodrama is a style of theatre with heightened emotions with overly stylized stock characters, grand stage gestures, poetic language, and sentimental plots. Example Suggestion: Receiving a letter in[…]
Knife Throwing Description In a circle one person throws a “knife” to someone else. They catch the knife by clapping it in their hands, and throw it to someone else. Subscribe to Our Newsletter If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter containing helpful improv resources, casting calls for new shows and news[…]
Copy Dance Description Split the group into groups of around 5. In 5 minutes they pick a song they all know, practice singing it and create a dance routine. After 5 minutes each group performs, and after each performance another group gets up and copies the routine they’ve just watched. Teaching Purpose Used to teach[…]
Late for Work Description One player leaves the room. The host gets suggestions of why they were late for work, how they got there, and what their job is. When the person re-enters they apologise to their boss, while trying to guess the reasons suggested. The rest of the improvisers play their colleagues, and mime[…]
Zip Zap Zop Description Everyone stands in a circle. With a lot of energy the first person passes a “zip” across to someone else in the circle, that person then passes a “zap” to someone else, they pass a “zop”. Continue repeating and passing zip zap zop. It’s inevitable at some point you’ll “zip” a[…]
Xylophone Description We don’t actually know about a game called Xylophone, we just didn’t have anything to put under “X”. If you have any games please let us know! Subscribe to Our Newsletter If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter containing helpful improv resources, casting calls for new shows and news about[…]
3 Line Scenes Description A nice introduction to doing scenes. In two rows, people go pair by pair and do scenes with a total of three lines. Either one starts, the other responds, and the first person responds to that. The rest of the group enthusiastically applaud the pair. Variations Later on in the course[…]
Stop, Shuffle, Walk, Drop Description Everyone walks around the room. When the director says “stop” everyone stops, if they say “drop” they drop down and touch the floor. “Walk” means they start walking, “shuffle”, they shuffle along. After a while the director stops shouting out and the group start shouting out. Then nobody shouts out,[…]
Is There Any More? Description In pairs one person does a sound and action, their partner asks if there is any more and they say yes and increase the sound/action. Example Simon – does small sound and action Tamara – That’s great! Simon – Thank you Tamara – Is there anymore? Simon – Yes! Escalates[…]