Velvet is an agent of empowerment, creating curriculums and delivering workshops that give people space to develop their competence, consciousness, self-efficacy, and to create positive connections

Funny Heist

“The Rube-Goldberg machine of improv comedy”

September 14-15 intensive at Improvizza Festival (Malta)

In this class, we’ll learn about the tropes, planning, and action mechanics of the crime subgenre of “heist” — exploring both the fun “caper” and the serious “thriller” sides of story telling. This class follows the philosophy that “We don’t need guns, we brandish tension!”

This class sold out in Ottawa through Wayward Improvised Theatre (2025)

Suddenly Solo

A non-musical workshop

October 10 intensive at the New Zealand Improv Festival (Wellington)

The show is going great! You’ve performed duo and trio scenes, and even come in with some support mischief. New scene and suddenly you’re on stage. Just You. Suddenly Solo!

After this active, participatory, workshop, you’ll achieve more stage confidence by strengthening and committing to your premises and your skill in active (self) listening. Come for the fun and the challenge of performing solo versions of popular games and scenes

This low pressure class is for you if you have some short form game experience through classes or stage time

This class sold out in Ottawa through Wayward Improvised Theatre (2026)

Other Proven Workshops

The following workshops (alphabetically listed) are primarily geared toward performers invested in continuing their improvisational learning journey

Award Winning Moments

Be audacious and loquacious! Play characters who deeply care, specifically share, and chew scenery to elevate your scenes with spotlight moments

This workshop last SOLD OUT through Queen City Improv (2024)

Gamebreaker

Have you seen performers shine at certain improvisational and theatre games and wished you could be a gamebreaker too?

This workshop last SOLD OUT in Baltimore and Ottawa (2024)

Musical Improv Primer

Get past anxiety and social conditioning, to let your shower swagger shine!

This workshop SOLD OUT with each offering: Black and Funny Improv Festival (2024), GNATA Festival (2024, Oakville edition), and Ottawa Improv Jamboree (2023)

About Your Facilitator

Velvet Wells (they/them) is an award-winning queer, Black, lyrical comedian and facilitator from Toronto, based in Ottawa. They are the creator-producer of “All Request Radio”, “Funny Heist”, numerous touring Fringe Festival shows, and Ottawa’s Comedy Cabaret Cruise. They were doubly lauded as an emerging artist — in 2023 as the Emerging IBPOC Artist laureate by the Ottawa Arts Council and in 2022 the Emerging Artist of the Year by JRG Society for the Arts in Halifax, specifically for incorporating accessibility into live theatre productions. Velvet develops and delivers anti-Black racism training and strategic guidance to live performance organizational leadership. They deliver corporate training through Teamland, and develop and deliver improvisational training through Wayward Improvised Theatre and internationally at festivals.

We’ll create Consent Informed Spaces for each other in these workshops