Notes From Row H

Off West End theatre review – Hoopla! (PR/Gifted)

Three Grown Ups Sitting Round a Table is an improv show featuring three seasoned and very talented improvisers, which made its debut at Hoopla on Tuesday 28^th April as part of Hoopla’s 20^th Anniversary Improv Festival. 

Made up of Ruth Bratt (from Showstopper! The Improvised Musical), Lee Simpson (from The Comedy Store Players) and Lauren Shearing (also from Showstopper! The Improvised Musical), this show was entirely improvised and supported by props that were picked out by a random audience member. 

The plot of this particular show centred around a couple and their struggling relationship. Add to that their surrogate, numerous cups of tea, and a real miniature bottle of rum, and you get an hilarious evening. 

All three performers are accomplished improvisers, so the dialogue was everything you would expect it to be – quick, clever, and of course, extremely entertaining. Also, to avoid the show becoming too static, they introduced an interesting concept of characters sometimes leaving the room so the actors could not hear what was being said on stage, and this obviously only made the show even funnier.  

This was my first visit to Hoopla, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely be going back to watch more of their improv and comedy shows! 

Written by Helena Featherstone