The Velvet Duke (onstage), Velvet Wells (offstage), they/them everywhere
Variety Guest Performer
The Velvet Duke, Canada’s premier spontaneous balladeer, transforms your suggestions into short silly songs
- Capital Bi Black Excellence Showcase (Sat. Feb 7 – Tickets)
- Kitty’s Korner at Swizzles (Thurs. Feb 19 & Feb 26)
- Basement Burlesque at Swizzles (Sat. Jan 17)
Stand up Comedy
- In The Black at Harold Shenkman Hall (Fri. May 8)
- KO Comedy (Fri. Jan 9)
M.C. Emcee Velvet!
Velvet Wells is a calm, commanding master of ceremonies, events, and shows
February 5, 2026 Prix d’ARTS OTTAWA Awards at NAC (Tickets – $25)
Improv Classes and Workshops
Velvet Wells facilitates workshops and classes to build and sustain performance skills. Previously offered improv classes and workshops
(Deep Dive: The Heist – SOLD OUT) For improvisers who want to dig into the heist genre as part of their longform narrative improvisation, through Wayward Improvised Theatre. (Blog promo)
Improv Formats
Velvet-created longform improvisational formats
All Request Radio
Never heard before, spontaneous Top40 radio ready songs. Visit for more details: AllRequestImprov.com
Y’Up
Velvet plays two scenes at once, based on each performer’s preferred game/scene style
Heist Stakes Puppet Trailer
Debuted at the Gilbert & Friends takeover show of Damn Fine Improv (Nov 2025)
The Penultimatum
Jan 18, 1pm-2:30pm Practice the format! (Details)
A segment of the dramatic, improvised format debuted at the 2025 Ottawa Improv Jamboree. Featuring Claire Biddiscombe
M.C. Emcee Velvet!
Velvet Wells is a calm, commanding master of ceremonies, events, and shows
2026
- February 5, 2026 Prix d’ARTS OTTAWA Awards at NAC (Tickets – $25)
2025
- December Propeller Dance “Spark!” Community Day at Glebe Community Centre
- November Overflow Brewery’s BDAY BASH Lucky No 7
- October Ottawa Architecture Week “OAW Talks“
- June 2 Bella’s Outdoor Project
- April Propeller Dance’s “So it turns, we bloom”
Wells Written Thoughts (Occasional Blog Updates)
Caperdle
If you like Wordle and you like caper heists, enjoy this homebrew, 10 word series…
The Penultimatum Practice (Feb 15)
(Ottawa) Join Velvet Wells for the second practice of “The Penultimatum!” For 90 minutes, performers…
Heist: The Usual Suspects
Another reason I love heists — they are puzzles brought to life. Enjoy this word…
“Velvet’s wonderfully joyful infectious energy stays long after the sessions are done”
Athira Vidyadhar
Velvet Wells (they/them) is the multi-award winning creator of “Ice Cream Justice – The Puppet Musical”; “Heist Stakes Improv”; “All Request Radio Live on Location”; “Ottawa Comedy Cruise Cabaret”; “(Re)Tired Magical Black Man”; “Djinn Joint”; and “Personal Demon Hunter.”
Image: Photo of Velvet and two puppets, all smiling and wearing red; Photo: Melody Maloney Photography
Velvet Wells is a Black, queer, disabled professional devised theatre artist living in Ottawa
Velvet Wells Compliments
“Improv & Beyond” award – Ottawa community at the 2025 Ottawa Improv Jamboree
On Velvet Wells’ Introduction to Improv androgogy (Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah)
Select Testimonials
Amelia Alam (2025)
Velvet was my playwriting mentor a few years ago when I had the opportunity to complete a play for the…
Taylor Vardy (2025)
One thing is for sure — when you attend a Velvet Wells show, you’re guaranteed three things: The Ottawa theatre…
Leichelle (2025)
Through captivating shows and insightful workshops, Velvet fosters a space of creativity and personal growth. I had the privilege of…
The Velvet Duke 