The Olympus Theatre

The Olympus Theatre is a former Picturedrome cinema, built between 1922 and 1923 for E C J Palmer. It is constructed of red brick on a steel frame, with the front block rendered. The roofs are not visible. The building comprises a frontage with offices and a foyer, and a double-height auditorium with one balcony at the rear. In 1986, the stage was enlarged for the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society, who converted adjoining shops into a bar, studio theatre and green room, although these additions are not of special interest.

The almost symmetrical facade has five bays, with the right-hand bay canted on the corner and retaining a shop front under plaster swags. Giant pilasters divide the bays, extending along the side elevation of the front range. The upper storey features square leaded windows in plaster surrounds. A broad central bay has a canopy supported on iron brackets, obscuring the canted opening and sheltering two pairs of double doors, which have been moved forward to create a small vestibule for ticket sales. Above a plain central block, originally containing the projection suite, is a modern vertical sign.

Inside, the tall, square inner foyer has a decorated plaster ceiling with a modillion cornice. Rectangular leaded casement windows provide borrowed light to the circle foyer behind. Stairs on either side lead to the circle. The auditorium retains exceptionally rich plasterwork to the walls, ceiling, and balcony front, although some truncation has occurred; a passage has been inserted at the back of the stalls, and a new proscenium has been added forward of the original to create a suitable stage for opera and drama. A central circular ceiling rose features rich plaster decoration, a modillion cornice, giant pilasters, and plaster panels between them. The curved balcony front is adorned with shields and swags.

The Picturedrome was opened on 15 January 1923. It was remodelled and reopened as the Ritz in 1955, and taken over by the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society in 1986. The theatre's rich plasterwork and intimate scale make it well-suited to its current use, which has preserved most of its important features.