Things to do · Arts and crafts
Take an improv comedy class
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Improv comedy is made up on the spot, sometimes a whole scene from a one-word suggestion, and its core idea is "yes, and", which means accepting what your partner offers and building on it. Beginners' classes are games, exercises and short scenes in a group, and Hoopla Impro says you do not need to be clever or funny to start.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What a first class is like
It is mostly games and exercises. Hoopla's two-hour taster covers listening, "yes, and", confidence, spontaneity, character and scenes, in groups of about 12 to 14 (16 at most). The Free Association's Level 1 adds space work, using mime to bring a scene to life, and builds up to improvising a whole scene from a one-word suggestion.
The Second City's Improv 1 in Chicago works on "yes, and", impulse and spontaneity, listening and taking risks. Not every first level is open to everyone. The Groundlings' Basic Improv needs a placement audition first, while its Intro Track classes are open to anyone.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Hoopla Impro, London | One two-hour taster workshop, aged 18 and over; an eight-week Level 1 course follows | £28 plus booking fee |
| The Free Association, London | Level 1; eight (some runs four) weekly three-hour classes, or a four-day intensive, 10am to 5pm; no experience necessary | £335 plus £6.50 fee |
| City Lit, London | Comedy improvisation; Friday evenings, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, five weeks from 15 January 2027 or six weeks from 16 April 2027; open to all levels | £149 (five weeks) or £179 (six weeks); concession £104 or £125 |
| Crescent Arts Centre | Introduction to Comedy Improvisation; twelve Wednesday evenings of 90 minutes (September to December 2025 run); aged 16 and over | £126 or £114 |
| The Second City, Chicago | Improv 1; weekly three-hour sessions (January to February 2027 runs); or Improv 1A, four weeks covering the first half of Improv 1 | $395; Improv 1A $225 |
| The Groundlings, Los Angeles | Basic Improv; 12 classes of games, exercises and scene work; audition required first | $580 (2025 listing) |
Some runs, especially at The Free Association, were sold out when last listed, so book ahead.
How to start
- Book a one-off taster workshop first if you are unsure, then a beginners' (Level 1) course of several weeks.
- Check the class length and whether you can pay a deposit; The Free Association, for example, takes 25% at checkout.
- If a school asks for an audition, as The Groundlings does for Basic Improv, start with a class that is open to all beginners instead.
Where to go
- Hoopla Impro: beginners improv taster workshops (London) UK
- The Free Association: Level 1, beginners (London) UK
- City Lit: Comedy improvisation (London) UK
- The Second City: Improv 1 (Chicago) US
- The Groundlings: classes FAQ (Los Angeles) US
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need to be funny to do an improv class?
No. Hoopla Impro says you do not need to be clever or funny for its beginners' workshop, which is about playing and improvising for fun.
Do I need any experience to join an improv class?
Not for a beginners' class. The Free Association's Level 1 says no experience is necessary, and The Groundlings' Intro Track classes are open to anyone.
What does "yes, and" mean in improv?
Agreeing with what your scene partner offers and building on it. It is one of the first principles taught at The Free Association and The Second City.
How long is a beginners' improv course?
From a single two-hour taster at Hoopla to four or eight weekly three-hour classes, or a four-day intensive, at The Free Association.
Where this comes from: Hoopla Impro, Beginners improv classes; The Free Association, Level 1 Improv Class: Beginners; City Lit, Comedy improvisation; Crescent Arts Centre, Introduction to Comedy Improvisation; The Second City, Improv 1 (Chicago); The Second City, Improv 1A (Chicago); The Groundlings, FAQ; The Groundlings, Basic Improv. Opened 12 November 2026.
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