Late-in-Life Lesbian

Written and performed by Shane Thevenot | Directed by Lucy Gervais | Stage Managed by Steph Adamov

Venue 09, the Planetarium Auditorium, 190 Rupert Ave.

• Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 p.m.

• Thursday, July 17, 2:00 p.m.

• Saturday, July 19, 12:45 p.m.

• Sunday, July 20, 6:00 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 23, 4:30 p.m.

• Friday, July 25, 11:00 a.m.

• Saturday, July 26, 9:45 p.m

Late-in-Life Lesbian Synopsis

Late-in-Life Lesbian is the award-nominated, breakout solo show of Winnipeg comedian, Shane Thevenot. It is a heart-warming autobiographical coming-out story of a non-binary lesbian who gave up everything to live their best gay life.

Shane is a lesbian who went through a 32-year-long straight phase that included such terrifying events as growing up in the woods, surviving the pandemic in Montreal, and U-hauling with a man. Part stand-up comedy, part drama and social commentary, it is a hilarious, fresh take on the late-bloomer lesbian and non-binary experience that will leave audiences feeling like it’s never too late to be who they were always meant to be.

Content warnings: Ages 16+. Mature themes, including emotional abuse, homophobia, transphobia, suicidal thoughts, and references to sexual violence and death. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Bios

Shane Thevenot (they/them) is a jack of all trades in media production and entertainment. They are a writer, photographer, improviser, poet, and recovering journalist. Late-in-Life Lesbian is their breakout solo show. They currently run a monthly comedy show called Queer Comedy Night at the Little Brown Jug in Winnipeg. During their near-decade-long stint in Montreal, they were a regular performer at Sunday Night Improv at Theatre Saint Catherine. Their plays and sketch comedies have been featured in Montreal Sketch Fest in Montreal, as well as the Chinook Regional One Act Festival and at the David Spinks Theatre in Lethbridge, Alberta. They have bylines as a journalist for CBC, the Toronto Star, Cult MTL and others.

Instagram: @shanethevenot

Lucy Gervais (they/them) is a Canadian stand-up comic, playwright, and producer making their director debut with the production of Late-in-Life Lesbian. They've been featured in Vice Magazine, Sirius XM, the Shedot Festival, Montreal Sketchfest, the Montreal St. Ambroise Fringe Festival, Zoofest/Off-JFL, and have recorded with Just for Laughs as part of their JFL Originals Series. Their comedy duo, Hack Couture, won the 2019 and 2020 I Heart Jokes Best Format Show award. Their one-person show Lucy Gervais Has a Guardian Angel was nominated for Outstanding Comedy in English sponsored by Just for Laughs at the 2022 Montréal Fringe. Their debut comedy album Negative Space can be heard on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.

Instagram: @thelucygervaisshow

Steph Adamov (they/she) has wardrobe full of hats and plaid they have worn throughout Treaty 1, 3 and Shoal Lake 40 First Nations. Avid and active in the arts sector as a stage manager, arts administrator, director and dramaturg, Steph aims to be the rainbow riveted advocate they needed when they were small. From stage managing Winnipeg Pride for 10+ years to celebrating Kenora Pride's 10th Anniversary...if there is a cause under the rainbow, Steph is there. You can spot Steph in the wild at Fringe this year writing reviews for Jenny Revue as well as tallying points at the Jenny Awards.

“I would like to dedicate this show to anyone discovering their identity on this pale blue dot in our cosmic arena.” -SA

Special thanks from Shane

A very heart-felt thanks to Pride At Work and the Social Entrepreneur Enclave (SEE) for sponsoring us, and to the Manitoba Association of Playwrights (MAP) for your late-stage dramaturgy.

My eternal thanks to Lucy Gervais for offering their time and talents to direct Late-in-Life Lesbian again. Steph Adamov who stepped in as stage manager and helped bring the technical elements of our show to life.

Brandy Vallance, who is truly to credit for giving Pond her iconic long nickname, Madame Ponderosa Pupperoni Doodle Dear. You opened your home to me, you welcomed me into your family, and have proven to be a true friend. This show would absolutely not be possible without your hospitality, your humour, and your friendship.

Willow Rosenberg, my new Fringe Friend. Lou Laurence, my first Fringe Friend. Alain Mercia, who taught me how to be funny. Sandy Armstrong, who offered guidance in an early version of this show. $_Bash and M Chorney who bought me a button maker when they learned how much I love making buttons. A big thanks also to Nat Pace for introducing me to Lucy Gervais, the non-binary comedian who I adored from afar and had no idea would become the director of my show one day.

As always, I’d also like to thank the people who were directly involved in helping me through the period of my life that this show is based on. Leonard and Anne Thevenot, who showed me great hospitality during my time of need. My dad, John Thevenot, and my aunt, Jani Sorensen, who were wonderful supports to me. All six of my grandparents—Grant and Marilyn Sorensen, Paul and Ruth Thevenot, Brenda Bond and Don Gabel—who always hold a special place in my heart. And of course the friends who were directly involved in helping me through this: Cailin Woodward, Carl Cloutier, Megan Amstutz, Kyle Spreadbury, and Ann Kirschman.

—Shane Thevenot

Merch

Buttons by dontation
We take script scraps from printed copies of the script, and paste them on to clippings from magazines, comic books, and really any paper. Each button is unique and handmade by the Late-in-Life Lesbian crew and friends.

Gender is a Cosmos postcards $2
Send a postcard to someone who couldn’t make it to the show.

Madame Ponderosa Stickers $7 (in honour of the little lady’s 7th birthday)
The patron saint of dumping people who do not make you feel safe or allow you to be yourself. Put her sticker anywhere that needs protection from the patriarchy. Let her sweet little face embolden you to find the couch pillow where you feel safest and most peaceful.

Shirts $10
Butch. tees were hand-printed by Shane during the world-premiere run of Late-in-Life Lesbian in 2024. Yes, it does say their deadname, as do all print materials from the world-premiere show. It’s OK. It’s part of the story.

It’s Never Too Late to be a Lesbian shirt was left over from the 2024 Kickstarter campaign.

World Premiere Script of Late-in-Life Lesbian $8 - Available by request

Please talk to Shane if you would like to order a copy of the original script. The script of the world premiere of Late-in-Life Lesbian is only available to booksellers through IngramSpark. It is not available on Amazon or Barns and Nobel, and any versions seen there were pirated and proceeds do not actually go to the author.

The script of Late-in-Life Lesbian: Full-Blown Edition, will be available in 2026. If you would like to be notified of when this new version comes out, please follow Shane on Instagram, or provide them your email address to be notified by email. You will only be contacted for that one purpose, and you will never receive spam or have your information shared.

Last notes from Shane and Lucy

Lucy Gervais: “I am very excited to be remounting and expanding Late-in-Life Lesbian since our initial run. Since then we’ve made discoveries in the material I am excited to share. This story is not just about coming out, it’s about coming out to yourself. It’s about what happens internally that eventually causes the truth to spring outward.”

Shane Thevenot: “Late-in-Life Lesbian is my first full-length stand-up comedy special. It has been a lifetime in the making, and more than half of that life took place right here in Manitoba. I’m honoured to be able to bring this story back home where it belongs. I hope that it makes you laugh, I hope it emboldens you to be yourself, and it makes you feel like it’s never too late to be who you were always meant to be.”

Late-in-Life Lesbian is made possible by our sponsors on Kickstarter

Ritika Kapur Dubash, Marilyn Sorensen, Jani Sorensen, Ann, Yvonne Thevenot, Anonymous Backer 69, Beverly J., Marys Niesink, Simon Hoffmann Riis, Alyssa Beth Turner, Karmyn Mainland, Amanda Burton, Heather Witherden, Margaret Thompson, Linda Klan, Florentia Nitsche, Nauzad Dubash, Shoshana Forester Smith, Lauren Martin, Rachel2, Florentia Nitsche.

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

New Sponsorship Package

If you own and operate a business that would like to support a future show, click the link to see our sponsorship package.

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