Review, Hoopla! 20th Anniversary, *****

Hoopla Improv London 20th anniversary celebrations 2026

Review: HOOPLA! RH & Friends 20th Anniversary Special

As Hoopla celebrates its twentieth anniversary, it is wonderful to reflect on a legacy that spans from the ancient masked antics of Commedia dell’Arte to the spontaneous wit of modern London. When Hoopla launched in 2006, it brought a fresh, community-driven energy to the UK, standing on the shoulders of giants. I recall visiting The Second City in Chicago in the early 90s, where the air already hummed with the history of the craft and The Comedy Store Players had been perfecting short-form games in the West End since 1985. Hoopla took that global heritage and grounded it in the essential grit of British pub culture.

The journey from those early days in Balham is a testament to an organic, “can do” attitude. There is something deeply evocative about the image of the team hiking the streets to find a spare basement after a double booking, or running a session by candlelight during a power cut for a single, solitary student. Those early values of joy, play, and support were forged in pubs across London. This spirited era saw the birth of something special, hosting early performances from groups like Showstoppers! The Improvised Musical, Austentatious and Mischief Theatre before they became household names. The managers at The Miller pub (their now permanent home) showed their commitment in a characteristically bold fashion, painting the Hoopla name so large across the building that it is reputedly visible from planes landing at City Airport.

Hoopla Improv Theatre Show Venue by Steve Roe

Hoopla today has grown into a thriving institution, teaching thousands of students each year across Central London and running full-time shows at their own dedicated theatre. Their house team system provides essential performing opportunities for new talent, while a pioneering diversity programme ensures that the stage reflects the vibrant city around it.

A particularly beloved part of this history is RH and Friends, hosted by the RH Experience, who have been a mainstay of the Hoopla schedule for eighteen years. Their monthly nights became a vital hub for the scene, welcoming a staggering array of guests from Nina Conti to Abandoman. It is wonderfully fitting that they have kicked off this anniversary festival, bringing their signature “classic improv chaos” back to the stage where so much of it began.

RH Experience open Hoopla 20th Anniversary experience — Conor Jatter, Luke Spillane, Tom Webster

The first half of the evening perfectly captured the spirit of the occasion, featuring support from Not a Cult and Valkyrie. It was particularly wonderful to see a group like Not a Cult take the stage; as relative beginners, they reflect the very heart of Hoopla’s twenty-year mission to bring improv to the masses. They paved the way for the talented trio of Conor Jatter, Tom Webster, and Luke Spillane, who revived their beloved format, “Stuck.” Drawing the themes of a crab, a surgeon, and a clock from the audience, the three wove together a piece of hilarious magic that reminded everyone why the RH Experience remains a Hoopla staple.

To see Hoopla evolve from those determined pub nights into such an inclusive and professional home for improvisation is a true milestone. They have honoured the historical roots of the craft while ensuring it remains a place where every voice can find its way into the story. Here is to twenty years of “Yes, And” and the vibrant, unpredictable future ahead.

2006: Hoopla founded at The Bedford, Balham, by Steve Roe and Edgar Fernando.
2008: The RH Experience joins the Hoopla family. They begin “RH and Friends,” which will become one of the longest-running monthly residencies in London improv history.
2010: Hoopla moves to The Miller in London Bridge, creating the UK’s first dedicated improv theatre. RH and Friends moves with them, helping to establish the venue’s reputation for high-quality variety.
2011–2020: RH and Friends becomes a “testing ground” for major UK comedy talent, hosting guests like Nina Conti, Mawaan Rizwan, and Abandoman before they head to television and major tours.
2020–2022: The residency survives the pandemic through digital shows, maintaining the link between the troupe and the Hoopla community.
April 10, 2026: A special Anniversary edition of RH and Friends. This show marks 18 years of the troupe’s partnership with Hoopla and serves as a headline event for the 20th Anniversary Festival.
Saturday 18th July, 2026: MC Hammersmith (Festival Finale)

HOOPLA Anniversary SHows:

The Hoopla! 20th anniversary celebrations continue and with many events less than £10, it is an absolute bargain for a night’s entertainment.

April Shows

Friday 10th April: RH & Friends 20th Anniversary Special
Saturday 11th April: Impropera! & Whoop Ass!
Thursday 16th April: Show Up, My Sons, & Kerfuffle
Friday 17th April: One Night Only & Giant Steps
Saturday 18th April: Comediasians & Friends 20th Anniversary Special
Monday 20th April: Glamazon Prime, CSI: Crime Scene, & Burn the Script
Wednesday 22nd April: Next Level Sketch (feat. Julia Masli, Jonathan Oldfield, Susan Harrison, & Jess Carrivick)
Thursday 23rd April: Hoopla House Party (GÄMEZ, The Descendants, Michelle, & Track 96)
Friday 24th April: Do The Right Scene’s 20th Anniversary Special
Saturday 25th April: Afternoon Soirée featuring Abandoman! & Grand Theft Impro
Monday 27th April: Festival MEGA Jam!
Tuesday 28th April: Three Grown Ups Sitting Round a Table (feat. Ruth Bratt, Lee Simpson, & Lauren Shearing) & Music Box
Wednesday 29th April: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, The Inflatables, & Hell Yeah!
Thursday 30th April: LadyProv & Grand Theft Impro