History
Watford Palace Theatre opened in 1908 as a music hall. One of the most elegant Edwardian theatres in Britain, it is a Grade II listed building.
In 2008 The Story of the Palace Theatre Watford by Ian Scleater was published. This 320 page hardback book celebrates the life and work of Watford Palace. The book costs £19.95 and is available from the Box Office or from Waterstones - order online here.
Today the Palace enjoys a high national profile and a reputation for quality productions, some of which transfer to the West End or tour nationally. Successes include David Farr's Elton John's Glasses, which transferred to the West End and Simon Gray's The Late Middle Classes, which won the 1999 TMA Award for Best New Play. Our 2008 collaboration with the Young Vic and The Opera Group saw Street Scene win the TMA Best New Musical award.
The Palace is a major attraction in the area, and is one of only three producing theatres in the East of England; over 100,000 people pass through our doors every year. Our major productions are produced, cast and rehearsed in house. We're incredibly pround that our own wardrobe and scenic workshop build and make our shows here in Watford. Each major production rehearses for four weeks and generally runs for three weeks. The acting company changes for each production.