The Gladstone Theatre has been a hub of local theatre since 2011, becoming a shared-use space for indie theatre productions. The Gladstone has made both local and professional theatre companies accessible to audiences across the city, and their 2025-26 season promises even more spectacles, with a few new faces joining the stage.
The Gladstone hosted a gala to celebrate their new season while also offering a sneak peek at some of the shows, with their season opener set to premier in mid-August. Robin Guy, Theatre Manager for the Gladstone and the night’s MC, spoke about how her role as theatre manager is kind of like being a “theatrical midwife.”
“I have the privilege of helping multiple theatre companies bring their shows to the stage — it’s their baby, but I get to facilitate all the things,” she says. “I connect them with tech, local professionals and basically do whatever I can to ensure the success of their show.”
Photo of the interior of the Gladstone Theatre. Photo provided.
New production company to the Gladstone stage, Thousand Miles of Bricks Productions from Kingston, Ont., will be performing Josiah from Aug. 19-23. The story follows the real-life Josiah Henson and his escape from slavery in the United States into Canada with his wife and four children.
For one night only, on Aug. 29, Jesse Stewart will present his one-person show Neighbours — the third instalment in a performance trilogy about what it means to be a good neighbour. But don’t worry; you don’t need to have seen the first two shows in order to enjoy this award-winning interdisciplinary artist’s show!
ToToToo Theatre is back at the Gladstone for two classic musicals this season. From Oct. 23-Nov. 1, they will be performing The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and from May 14-23 will be their performance of Fun Home. ToToToo Theatre is Ottawa’s only 2SLGBTQIA+ theatre company, telling queer stories, and presenting work by queer artists in the city.
Poster for Fun Home by ToToToo Theatre. Photo provided.
“When you come to the Gladstone, it is an independent theatre, which means that every single show is a passion project by the artists who are putting it on the stage,” says Guy. “You’re getting really exciting, alive, artistic expression and it’s produced by [companies] who just put themselves on the line and get this stuff out there.”
Another veteran company of the Gladstone stage at the Phoenix Players with some serious comedy. From Nov. 21-29 Les Belles Soeurs tells the story of a Quebecoise woman who wins a million stamps in a contest, and holds a stamping party with her community. And a double bill, from April 24-May 2, CRACKERS about two parrots who don’t see eye to eye, and Debate Debacle, about the Prime Minister’s staff trying to cancel his upcoming TV debate on account of some strange behaviour, are sure to get audiences laughing.
Poster for CRACKERS and Debate Debacle performing at the Gladstone by the Phoenix Players. Photo provided.
Elevator Theatre Company will also be performing two shows. August: Osage County plays Feb. 4, and Once plays from June 3-13.
Another new company to the Gladstone this year, 9th Hour Theatre Company will perform Babette’s Feast from Nov. 6-15, about the power of community and cultural exchange over an immaculate dinner. And Morph Arts theatre will be performing a clown-rendition of Pride and Prejudice from April 8-18.
“The new artists that are coming next season are everything from super season professionals through to really emerging artists, so [the 2015-26 season] really runs the gamut,” says Guy.
The University of Ottawa Theatre Club makes their return to the Gladstone stage with their take on a Shakespeare classic, Twelfth Night, which will perform from Dec. 3-6. And Lost Baggage Musical Theatre will also perform their show One Small Misstep from Jan. 28-31, which was also featured at this year’s undercurrents festival. However, this show will see an extended version of the festival piece.
Play Hard Productions is performing a well-known mystery with a twist. Sherlock Holmes and the Locked Room will play from Feb. 18-28, where audiences can see the famed detective alongside Dr. Watson tries to escape from a locked room with none other than their nemesis James Moriarty.
Poster for Sherlock Holmes and the Locked Room from Play Hard Productions. Photo provided.
And, Bear & Co. in collaboration with Three Sisters Theatre Company will perform Blood Relations from March. 4-14 about the infamous tale of Lizzie Borden.
And finally, The Iron Cabaret will also be performing two shows for all your spicy and sensational cabaret needs. Angels and Demons will perform Oct. 8-18, and Legends will perform from June 14-27, inspired by mythical creatures from different folk tales.
“I’m delighted we have 16 shows this year — we’ve got a new show on stage every one or two weeks,” says Guy. “This is and has been for many many years probably the busiest theatre in Canada and it’s so exciting to see the volume of theatre, the variety of theatre, the incredible diversity of what the shows are like. It’s the most exciting thing to see this coming alive.”
Tickets and subscription packages are available now for the Gladstone’s 2025-26 season. For more information, contact the box office at 613-233-4523 or purchase them online.
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