Patti Stiles
Patti Stiles was one our first ever improv teachers when we were starting out and she was really inspirational to Hoopla! It’s a joy to have her back in London teaching a series of classes as part of her international tour!
Patti is an improviser, actor, director, teacher, author and playwright who’s been working professionally in theatre since 1983. She served her theatre apprenticeship at the world renowned Loose Moose Theatre and was trained by Keith Johnstone.
She has an infectious enthusiasm for improvisation. Mix this with her insightful improvisation technique, strong narrative skill and her spirit of play, and it is no wonder she is responsible for inspiring thousands of people to improvise!
Her understanding of Johnstone’s work and philosophy, combined with her own discoveries and her wealth of experience on the world impro stage, has made her a “must have” teacher for performers and companies wishing to create spontaneous theatre with fine skill, strong narrative, heart and elegant style.
Patti has taught and performed in North and South America, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, UAE and the Oceania region for numerous improvisation companies, festivals, and theatre schools and in the corporate arena.
She is a former Artistic Director of Rapid Fire Theatre (CA), Dream Kitchen Theatre (CA), Impro Melbourne (AU) and the International Theatresports Institute (CA), and a founding member of the award winning Die Nasty – the live improvised soap opera (CA).
Her tutelage and mentorship has strongly influenced many improvisors and improvisation companies all over the world. Such as Rapid Fire Theatre (CA), Impro Melbourne (AU), Spontaneity Shop (UK), Hoopla (UK), Closer Each Day (UK), Smoking Sofa (FR), Teatro A Molla (IT) and I Bugardini (IT), B.L.U.E – the musical (IT), Courtyard Playhouse (UAE) and the award winning Austentatious (UK).
In 2021 she released her first book Improvise Freely. It has received an enthusiastic response from improvisors, teachers and impro companies around the globe.
Adding to her list of credits are three nominations for an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award, plus she holds the unofficial record for being the first female to improvise for 53 hours in a row in the famous Die Nasty soap a thon.
The Canadian press has given her the titles “Impro Doyen” and “Queen of Improvisation”.
We are so excited to welcome Patti to Hoopla!
workshops
There will also be a show with Patti Stiles at some point during her tour, dates and details for show to follow.
Spice It Up. BOOK (1 space left)
Breaking patterns and routines. Learn to dance on the creative edge! Helps to make your improv exciting and in the moment and help you get unstuck from improv ruts. One of the workshop themes to first inspire Hoopla.
Date: Friday 26th September 2025.
Time: 11am – 4pm including a 1 hour lunch break.
Venue: Old Diorama Arts Centre, Regent’s Place, 201 Drummond St, London, NW1 3FE.
Tubes: Warren Street/Euston/Great Portland Street.
Price: £120 + booking fee.
Level: Intermediate & Advanced. Must have experience of improvising scenes in a workshop. Not suitable for people totally new to improv.
Joy Of Johnstone. WAITING LIST
Keith Johnstone was unconventional. His observations and philosophy redefined approaches to theatrical improvisation. Keith’s work is built upon breaking rules, learning from one’s mistakes and a belief in every individual’s unique worth and creativity, He encouraged students to be average, to be obvious, to take risks and embrace failure. Bring your curiosity, playfulness, and mischief as we dive into classic Keith Johnstone exercises and unleash spontaneity, embrace the obvious and be present in the moment.
Date: Saturday 27th September 2025.
Time: 11am – 4pm including a 1 hour lunch break.
Venue: Old Diorama Arts Centre, Regent’s Place, 201 Drummond St, London, NW1 3FE.
Tubes: Warren Street/Euston/Great Portland Street.
Price: £120 + booking fee.
Level: Intermediate & Advanced. Must have experience of improvising scenes in a workshop. Not suitable for people totally new to improv.
Do Scenes Get Notes! BOOK (1 space left)
There are valuable insights one can learn from receiving an outside perspective. A note that helps you question and reflect is useful. Without feedback improvisors can grow anxious in uncertainty and lack of direction. This workshop focuses on constructive honest feedback relevant to the scene and skill level of the student. Notes will focus on skill and narrative technique, stage craft and needs of individual players. The aim is to shine a light on areas to work on.
Date: Sunday 28th September 2025.
Time: 11am – 4pm including a 1 hour lunch break.
Venue: Old Diorama Arts Centre, Regent’s Place, 201 Drummond St, London, NW1 3FE.
Tubes: Warren Street/Euston/Great Portland Street.
Price: £120 + booking fee.
Level: Intermediate & Advanced. Must have experience of improvising scenes in a workshop. Not suitable for people totally new to improv.
Get Out Of Your Head And Play. WAITING LIST
Stop thinking, start playing! Patti’s playful style was hugely influential on the birth of Hoopla.
Date: Monday 29th September 2025.
Time: 6pm – 10pm.
Venue: Umbrella Rooms, 239 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn.
Price: £95 + booking fee.
Level: Intermediate & Advanced. Must have experience of improvising scenes in a workshop. Not suitable for people totally new to improv.
faqs
Who are these workshops suitable for?
Intermediate and advanced improvisers. Ideally you will have completed at least our Level 3 Scenes Course and ideally our Level 4 Course or equivalent too. You should be used to improvising scenes from suggestion in a workshop environment.
Do you offer discounts?
There will be one scholarship place per workshop. We won't be able to do any more as the workshops are helping fund the teacher's flights from overseas and also for their accommodation in London during their stay.
Will Patti be coming again?
Hopefully yes but nothing confirmed.
What’s the class size?
Maximum of 16 people, average of 12-14 people.
What's your cancellation policy?
You can get a full refund if you give us 24 hours notice. We don't give refunds if you give us less than 24 hours notice.