The Velvet Duke (onstage), Velvet Wells (offstage), they/them everywhere

Coming Next

• Sat., May 23 7PM: FINALE – Wanderlust

• Sat., May 23 8PM: ONE NIGHT ONLY – An Evening of Fan Fiction
• Mon., June 8 8PM: ONE NIGHT ONLY – The Velvet Duke’s Comedy Fiveversary (Damn Fine Improv Takeover)

Shows Details

Wanderlust (FINALE) (Improvisation)

Improvised Tales of Travel, Love, and Longing. Wanderlust is a fully improvised road trip across Canada—funny, heartfelt, and different every night. Two travelers hit the road in search of something important, and along the way they encounter unforgettable characters, unexpected detours, and the joys and disasters of getting to know someone mile by mile. Whether the journey leads to the Arctic Circle or a spectacularly ill-fated trip to IKEA, Wanderlust celebrates the mess, magic, and intimacy of life on the road. Wayward Improvised Theatre, Sat., May 23

An Evening of Fan Fiction (Reader, Singer)

Join us Sat., May 23, right after Wanderlust, for an evening of silly, sassy, sexy stories from the Alternate Universes of your favourite media. Featuring a mix of return readers and some brand spankin’ newbies, you don’t want to miss our Sprung Spring Show! Produced by Petulant Guppy and Dead Unicorn Ink Productions

The Velvet Duke’s Comedy Fiveversary (Improvisation)

On Mon., June 8, join Velvet for a Damn Fine Improv Takeover! The Velvet Duke celebrates their Comedy Fiveversary in Ottawa. They have a prolific assortment of formats, and talented comedians ready to spontaneously entertain you. Do you like witty games? Got you. Serious scenes? Got that too. Want to sit back and watch or jump in on stage? Come on through!

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Festivals

Training: Advocacy

Practicing Your Responses to… Difficult Workplace Interactions

Using experience-based learning to address topics like Difficult Workplace Interactions. Participants spend the time practicing their IDEA knowledge toward enhancing belonging and eliminating discrimination. IDEA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility

“Into the Neighborhood”

We’ll come together for an hour to share tactics around mapping and strengthening our community connections (PODIUM Choral Conference, May 14-17)

the care/shift

Now more than ever, we need to lean into community and care. In collaboration with the Black Pledge Collective, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre is exploring how we can deepen our care practises to centre equity and social justice in the workplace. What supports, tools and frameworks do we need to be more care-full? (Buddies in Bad Times, June 3-4)

Turning DEI Into Action – Practical Strategies for Inclusive Events (Feb 18)

Story Sharing Program

A community embracing and healing program for Bruce House clients through story sharing. Funded by the Ottawa Community Foundation

Training: Improvisational Performance

Velvet Wells facilitates classes and workshops to build (and sustain) your performance skills

• SOLD OUT – Suddenly Solo — a deep dive into thriving in solo improv moments (Wayward Improvised Theatre, Tuesdays in May)

Previously offered improv classes and workshops

“Velvet’s energy is always stellar!!”

Aly Joy-Lily McDonald, Arts Ottawa award winner 2026

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“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