In the Heart of Little Italy: The Gladstone Theatre, Ottawa’s Home for Indie Theatre

Meet Robin Guy! Robin has been the Theatre Manager at The Gladstone, an independent theatre house in Ottawa’s Little Italy, since 2022. Her love for all things theatre runs deep; she is a performer first, with a background in acting, directing, and producing. Robin also brings valuable experience from various management roles throughout her career. Since the mid-2000s, she has been a performer at The Gladstone. Additionally, Robin founded Three Sisters Theatre Company, a production group dedicated to bringing stories featuring complex female characters to the stage.

The Gladstone Theatre, located at 910 Gladstone Avenue, has been Ottawa’s home for independent theatre for decades—a perfect spot for dinner and a show in the heart of Little Italy! Here, you will find an eclectic variety of indie productions at affordable ticket prices. The theatre itself has blue-collar roots, starting as a cinderblock garage when Little Italy was primarily a working-class neighborhood. In 1982, the Great Canadian Theatre Company converted it into a 230-seat theatre. In 2008, it was sold to a private owner and renovated in the Art Deco style you see today. By 2016, The Gladstone Theatre Inc. had become a non-profit charitable organization housing over twelve production companies. As a registered charity, The Gladstone Theatre is run by a Board of Directors with two staff members supporting day-to-day operations.

When an audience member walks into The Gladstone, they are welcomed by a glamourous Art Deco space with crystal chandeliers and black-and-white tiles. The cash bar is open before the show and often sells a themed drink for the night to bring the audience into the world they are about to experience on stage. The theatre is a classic space that can be customized for each show; there is truly never a bad seat in the house.  

Robin says that being part of the Little Italy community, where the street never sleeps, is a magical experience. Whether it’s dinner and a show or drinks after a night at the theatre, there is always something to do in the area. The neighborhood is gorgeous and well-maintained, with twinkling string lights in the trees lining the streets. Walking along Preston Street in the evening is a special experience, with an authentic and unique charm.  

Check out The Gladstone’s website to buy tickets for their 2024-2025 season!