The building in which The Gladstone Theatre now resides became a space for theatre in 1982, initially as the first permanent home of the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC). After the GCTC moved to a new location, the revitalized theatre opened in 2008 as the Gladstone, a commercial theatre owned and operated by Marilisa Granzotto and Steve Martin.
In 2011, members of Ottawa’s indie theatre community came together to redefine the Gladstone’s purpose as a shared-use hub with the purpose of bringing accessible, thought-provoking, and entertaining professional theatre to Ottawa audiences.
The organization incorporated as a not-for-profit in 2016 and became a registered charity in 2018. Throughout this time, the Gladstone has continued to provide independent theatre companies of all stripes with affordable space and shared resources. Following a pivotal moment in 2020 involving a sexual harassment report against a staff member (related to incidents pre-dating his employment at the Gladstone), the organization extensively revised its policies and practices to ensure a safe, inclusive environment. This commitment to continuous improvement, equity, and diverse representation is central to the Gladstone’s mission to this day.