Watford Palace Theatre

Watford Palace Theatre stands in the town centre of Watford, Hertfordshire. Built in 1908, it is an Edwardian building listed as Grade II. The 600-seat theatre occupies a corner site on Clarendon Road. Inside are a rehearsal room, wardrobe, café and bar. The entrance was modernised with a lift, ramps and automatic doors. A £8.8 million refurbishment finished in 2004 added two bars and a daytime café. The theatre opened under the Watford Palace of Varieties Company with Managing Director T.M. Sylvester. Early programmes featured variety shows and plays imported from London theatres. Stars such as Marie Lloyd, Evie Greene and Lottie Lennox appeared on its stage. From the early 1960s the theatre was managed by Jimmy Perry, later co-writer of Dad’s Army. In 2015 it received the Promotion of Diversity Award at the UK Theatre Awards. Visitors find a 600-seat auditorium with new seating and air cooling. The café and two bars provide refreshments before and after performances. Christmas pantomimes remain a regular highlight. RIFCO Arts, the resident company, produces new work alongside touring shows. The building’s Edwardian architecture and modern facilities make it Watford’s principal theatre.