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Velvet Duke Bio (Briefest)

Velvet Wells (they/them), aka “The Velvet Duke”, is an award-winning queer, Black, lyrical comedian and facilitator from Toronto, based in Ottawa. They are the creator-producer of “All Request Radio“, “Heist Stakes Improv”, numerous touring Fringe Festival shows, and Ottawa’s Comedy Cabaret Cruise

“Velvet brings such great energy and such a great vibe to each performance!”

Kelly Zemnickis

Velvet Duke Performance Highlights

“I want to kiss you” spontaneously created at Black Cat Cabaret: A Moulin Rouge Inspired Variety Show (Sept 27)

“Bronco” spontaneously created at Wayward Improv Theatre’s Maestro competition (Aug 16 video)

Velvet Duke Bio (Brief – Performer / Facilitator)

The Velvet Duke (they/them, Ottawa) is a lyrical comedian and creator-producer of All Request Radio and Ottawa Comedy Cabaret Cruise. They are an award-winning performer-playwright for “(Re)Tired Magical Man” (Emerging IBPOC Artist laureate 2023, Ottawa Arts Council; Emerging Artist of the Year 2022, JRG Society for the Arts)

Velvet Wells (they/them) is a queer, Black, disabled lyrical comedian based in Ottawa (Canada). They are an agent of empowerment, giving people space to develop their competence and consciousness, and their positive connections with each other. They’ve taught at festivals, in corporate offices, and in community spaces across North America and online

Velvet Duke Bio (Fuller)

Velvet Wells (they/them) is an award-winning queer, Black, lyrical comedian and creator-producer based in Ottawa, the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe 

They created Courage Collective to first work on “I Scream, You Scream… Justice” a new show for 2025 Ottawa Fringe Festival. They performed-produced three one act solo shows: “(Re)Tired Magical Black Man,” “Djinn Joint,” and “Personal Demon Hunter” as part of the Fringe Festival circuit, as well as writing “Anansi Discovers His Reflection” in 2023

  

Beyond the Bio

Velvet is aware of their privilege in surviving this world (so far) as a Black, autistic, disabled, fat, non-binary, queer, person of age. They wear their intersectionality proudly but neither as defense nor rallying call. They are older than their peers but they aren’t seeking to be called an Elder. They believe in community care, including learning how to heal themself from *all this*, and how to continue to do better while still failing forward

“Be who you need today to nurture your inner child”

Velvet Wells