The Olympus Theatre
THE OLYMPUS THEATRE, 162, BARTON STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1389103
- Date first listed:
- 09-Oct-2000
- List Entry Name:
- The Olympus Theatre
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLYMPUS THEATRE, 162, BARTON STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-09-09
- Reference:
- IOE01/16735/04
- Rights:
- © Ms Alison Claybourne. Source: Historic England Archive
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1389103
- Date first listed:
- 09-Oct-2000
- List Entry Name:
- The Olympus Theatre
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE OLYMPUS THEATRE, 162, BARTON STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLYMPUS THEATRE, 162, BARTON STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Gloucestershire
- District:
- Gloucester (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SO 83840 17962
Details
SO8317 BARTON STREET
844-1/15/10002 (Southwest side)
09-OCT-00 162
The Olympus Theatre
GV II
Former Picturedrome cinema, now theatre. 1922-3 for E C J Palmer. Red brick on steel frame, the front block rendered. Roofs not seen. Frontage building with offices and foyer, and to rear a double-height auditorium with one balcony. Stage enlarged 1986 for the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society, who have converted the adjoining shops into a bar, studio theatre and green room, none of which are of special interest.
Almost symmetrical facade of five bays, that to the right canted on the corner and retaining shop front under plaster swags. Giant pilasters divide the bays, and continue along side elevation of this front range. Upper storey has square leaded windows in plaster surrounds. Broad central bay has canopy supported on iron brackets, obscuring canted opening and sheltering two pairs of double doors which have been brought forward to create a small vestibule where tickets are now sold. Above a plain central block, originally containing the projection suite, carries a modern vertical sign.
Inside, tall, square inner foyer with decorated plaster ceiling surrounded by modillion cornice. Rectangular leaded casement windows to sides and giving borrowed light to circle foyer behind. Stairs on either side lead to circle. Auditorium retains exceptionally rich plasterwork to walls, ceiling and balcony front, although it has been truncated: a passage has been inserted at the back of the stalls, and a new proscenium has been inserted forward of the original, to create a suitable stage for opera and drama. Central circular ceiling rose with rich plaster decoration, with modillion cornice and giant pilasters. Plaster panels between these. Curved balcony front with shields and swags.
The Picturedrome was opened on 15 January 1923. It was remodelled and reopened as the Ritz in 1955, and was taken over by the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society in 1986. Its rich plasterwork and intimate scale make it ideally suited to its present use, which has preserved most of its important features.
Listing NGR: SO8384017962
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 486586
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 21:20:36.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.