Review: Hoopla! 20th Anniversary, Mini Showstopper! The Improvised Musical ****½

Review: Mini Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at Hoopla

It is a rare privilege to witness Showstopper! The Improvised Musical return to its roots. While many may know the show in the grand surroundings of a West End theatre, their recent appearance at Hoopla for the 20th Anniversary Festival offered a small-scale version for a lucky few. Usually playing to audiences of over 1,200 people, tonight 80 of us huddled in the Hoopla theatre at The Miller, back in the space where it all began.

The Showstoppers began their journey at Hoopla and have since enjoyed enormous theatrical success, including eleven sell out years at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, two West End runs, a BBC Radio 4 series, and the ultimate accolade of an Olivier Award. To see them in this “mini” format was to see the raw mechanics of their genius up close.

The evening was expertly guided by Dylan Emery, acting as the narrator and “writer,” who took suggestions from the audience to build our story. Pippa Evans took the lead as an air traffic controller whose father, played with a delightful Sean Connery impression, had cruelly deprived her of ever hearing the end of any story. Ruth Bratt was a particular highlight of the ensemble, creating a character who was a warm, funny, and depressingly realistic pub lover. She was exactly the sort of person you would not want in charge of your flight, yet she was entirely lovable.

Supported by two versatile musicians who deftly pick up the actors’ cues, the ensemble created their story through the musical lenses of Hamilton, Hadestown, and Operation Mincemeat (ideas provided by the audience), adding their own dashes of The Sound of Music. The level of teamwork required to create a fleshed out story, complete with songs, dance, and recognisable characters, was exciting to watch. Up close, you could see the level of eye contact and cooperation between them. It is easy to see why they have earned such success over the years.

The support acts were The Inflatables and Hell Yeah who warmed up the crowd with a variety of improv games. It was a very pleasurable night and a very fitting celebration for this gem of a London venue. Here’s to another 20 years of improv in South London!

A rare chance to see Showstopper at its most intimate and alive.

2006: Hoopla is founded by school friends Steve Roe and Edgar Fernando. Originally based in Balham, it begins as a way for friends to keep their passion for drama alive.
2008: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is founded. They perform many of their very first shows at Hoopla and make a debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that leads to eleven consecutive sell out years.
2009: Showstoppers begin a residency at the Kings Head Theatre before transferring to The Drill Hall.
2010: Hoopla moves its residency to The Miller in London Bridge, establishing what would become the UK’s first dedicated improv theatre.
2011: The Showstoppers bring spontaneous musical comedy to the airwaves with their own series on BBC Radio 4.
2015: A landmark year as the Showstoppers open at the Apollo Theatre for a limited ten week run, marking the first time a long form improv show has a full West End run.
2016: The troupe receives the ultimate industry recognition, winning the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family Show.
2023: The Showstoppers begin their residency at the Cambridge Theatre, where they continue to perform to this day.
2026: Hoopla celebrates its 20th Anniversary Festival, welcoming back the Showstoppers to the intimate stage where so much of the UK’s improv history was written.