Theatre unveils first new spaces in 115 years

The new creative spaces marks Watford Palace Theatre's first major expansion since opening in 1908

A theatre has launched five new creative spaces, including a studio for podcasting and digital content creation.

Watford Palace Theatre said the new facilities would launch local artists "to the world", offering flexible environments for livestreaming, rehearsal, and performance.

It added it was reacting to industry pressures to "find new audiences and new ways to be essential" to the community.

Built in 1908, it gave early career opportunities to actors such as Ben Kingsley, Alison Steadman and Vicky McClure - and marks the venue's first major expansion in more than a century.

New additions include the 1908 Cabaret, two studios, the Watford Palace Workshop, refreshed front-of-house areas, and a restored main house.

CEO Steve Marmion called the transformation a pivotal moment for the 115-year-old theatre.

"These new future facing spaces will allow us to perform to new audiences on new stages and screens," he said.

Front-of-house spaces now feature arcade machines, bar games, and quirky touches like a musical toilet named The Sir Elton John John

The 1908 Cabaret will serve as a co-working space by day and a cabaret venue by night, with 'pay what you can' events like Sip and Craft Mondays and Open Mic Wednesdays on offer.

Studio 1 will support podcasting and digital media, while Studio 2 becomes a hub for rehearsals and showcases, with both available to emerging talent such as the Watford Palace Young Company.

The Watford Palace Workshop, once a barn, is now a space for community groups and houses the theatre's backstage and admin teams.

Front-of-house areas now feature arcade machines, bar games, and quirky touches like a fortune-telling pig and a musical toilet named The Sir Elton John John.

The transformation reimagines the historic venue as a multi-media creative hub

The transformation was made possible through funding from the Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and The Backstage Trust.

Environmental upgrades, such as replacing gas boilers and chillers with energy-efficient air source heat pumps, will make the building more sustainable while supporting Watford Borough Council's wider climate goals.

The improvements will cut the theatre's carbon emissions by around 75%, saving nearly 1,300 tonnes of CO₂ over 20 years.

Mr Marmion said, "The industry is under pressure like never before with decreasing funding and less money in people's pockets. We have to react and find new audiences and new ways to be essential to our communities".

"Our bars and front of house spaces have had a full glow-up and are resplendent with new offers, games and fun shiny things to play with," he added.