King's Theatre Gloucester

King's Theatre frontage, painted in 2025 by local artist Tash Frootko.

The King's Theatre Gloucester is a 144-seat theatre in the city of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. It is owned by Gloucester City Council and leased to Kingsbarton Theatre 1999 Limited, a registered charity since March 2001.

The theatre hosts a variety of professional and amateur performances, notably from the five resident amateur theatre groups who share the space. Some of these groups have been operating for many years, whereas some are new groups which have emerged post-pandemic. These groups are The Crown Players, Phoenix Players, The Hardwicke Players, Wrandy Theatre Group, and Harmonee Productions.

The theatre is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom also perform with the resident amateur theatre groups.

History

The site of the theatre was originally a Salvation Army citadel, built in 1888. Anecdotal history posits that prior to this, there was a bacon factory or furniture repository or the site, but no evidence of this has been found. The building was sold to Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society (GODS) in 1960. GODS converted the citadel into a theatre, and The Olympus Theatre was opened in 1963 with a production of Ring Round the Moon by Jean Anouilh.

By 1985 the GODS had outgrown The Olympus, and so sold it to Gloucester City Council. The theatre was left in a poor state. Two other local amateur theatre groups, Phoenix Players and The Crown Players, approached Gloucester City Council to ask permission to take on the theatres' refurbishment. The two groups worked together to raise the money to refurbish the building. The refurbishment took around 8 months, and included a trip to Blackpool to pick up 144 new seats and fabric to reupholster them, and those incarcerated at Gloucester Prison being brought in to paint the walls. The theatre was renamed King's Theatre, and reopened in 1987 with a production of The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, and the Phoenix Players and The Crown Players acting as custodians.

From 1987 until 2025, the theatre operated as a small touring venue for tribute acts, psychic mediums, and others, as well as being home to the Phoenix Players and The Crown Players. In 1999, the custodians of the theatre began writing a constitution with the aim of gaining charitable status. A new charity, Kingsbarton Theatre 1999 Limited was registered in March 2001.

In February 2025, the theatre was forced to close due to failing a review by Gloucestershire Fire Service, as the building required updated fire safety and structural repairs. The volunteer team worked with local tradespeople who donated their time and resources to perform the required updates and repairs, and additionally refurbish the front of house area. The team also reached out to local artist Tash Frootko to paint the frontage of the theatre.

The theatre reopened in August 2025 with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by the town cryer, Alan Myatt, and the unveiling of two new plaques stating the theatre's establishment of 1987 and it's 'reimagining' in 2025.

Resident Groups

Five resident amateur theatre groups share the theatre throughout the year.

The Crown Players

The Crown Players formed in 1956, originally based at a nearby church and called The St Barnabas Players. In 1987 the group moved to the Kings Theatre and, 6 years later, changed their name to The Crown Players. The group is managed by committee and performs three times a year, specialising in comedy plays.

The Phoenix Players

The Phoenix Players were founded in 1958. They perform 3-4 times per year, focussing on modern and classic plays. They have performed both comedy and drama plays.

The Hardwicke Players

The Hardwicke Players were formed in November 2004. The group’s aim is to perform original productions for the local community and raise money for Gloucestershire-based charities. The Hardwicke Players performed for the first time in January 2006, staging an original pantomime The Merchants of Gloucester. The group perform twice a year, an annual January pantomime and a summer comedy show.

Wrandy Theatre Group

Wrandy Theatre Group formed in 2023 for the purposes of producing adult pantomime. They produce one pantomime a year, which is performed in December to strictly 18+ audiences. The group is funded by King's Theatre and any profits are gifted back to the theatre.

Harmonee Productions

Harmonee Productions were formed in late 2024 and are the only resident group who perform musicals. The group is open to anyone aged 16+ who wishes to gain experience in performing, and was given a grant by the King's Theatre in order to stage their first production of Fame: The Musical by Jose Fernandez (book), Jacques Levy (lyrics), and Steve Margoshes (music).