Conservation and Renewal

Watford Palace Theatre

PALACE THEATRE, WATFORD

CLIENT: THE PALACE THEATRE, WATFORD

LISTED GRADE II

Burrell Foley Fischer redeveloped the Palace Theatre, a building made up of two distinct parts, the Grade II listed Edwardian theatre and a 1980s extension built as part of an office redevelopment on the adjacent site. 

In the original theatre building, the stage house was completely rebuilt to provide a more generously proportioned partner to the 660-seat auditorium, which itself was remodelled to ‘close in’ the wide and Spartan side elevations and extended recess of the gallery. Additionally, the seating rakes and layout arrangements were improved at stall, circle and gallery levels. The backstage areas were completely rebuilt.

In the undistinguished 1980s extension, a vertical slot between the old and new parts of the venue defines the junction between the foyer area and the historic auditorium spanned by bridges reaching between the two halves. 

All front-of-house areas, access stairs and lift, and circulation and foyer spaces were rearranged and remodelled, opening up the front elevation to present dramatic new views of the public areas from the street.