Watford Colosseum and Watford Palace Theatre have dominated entertainment in the town since the early twentieth century. Both buildings have survived periods of great change to become thriving hubs in the community.

The foundation stone of Watford Palace Theatre was laid on June 3, 1908. Construction took six months, and when it opened it was the most exciting and culturally significant event in the locality for many years.

Admission was between 2p and 7 1/2p, with private boxes available at half a guinea. Shows were given twice nightly. The first was from 7pm, for working men who could enjoy the entertainment without it interfering with their work hours. Businessmen and tradesmen, on the other hand, who worked until 8pm, could attend the later show at 9pm.

Shows on opening night included The Melody Makers (six men and four pianos), W. Bedford and Company (comedy sketch artists) and The Denaro Brothers (acrobats).

The first pantomime performed at the theatre was Aladdin.

In 1909, the Watford community was obsessed with a new fad: roller skating, and a skating rink company began building a rink alongside the theatre.

The skating rink was popular and included games of hockey, dances and demonstration skating, but the fad did not last for long.

Meanwhile, the Palace continued to prove successful. It was briefly closed for reconstruction, during which the seating capacity was doubled, the boxes enlarged and the gallery revamped.

However, the theatre began to flounder in the 1950s. The owners found it hard to make ends meet and, by 1959, the Palace was losing hundreds of pounds a week. The Watford Observer’s editor, Max Kingston, wrote: ‘The people of Watford should be ashamed of ourselves if we let the theatre die.’

It was suggested that the council make it a civic theatre and, eventually, after rows and debates that ran on and on, the council agreed.

The civic company’s debut production was Around the World in 80 days.

Shortly after, for the first time in its history, the theatre produced its own Shakespearean play (rather than showing one put on by another company). Opening night was attended by Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon.

In 1972, the theatre closed due to financial problems. When it reopened, it was with a new lease of life and a determination to make the theatre popular again.

Soon, the Palace was reporting it had ‘reached the turning point’, attracting big audiences night after night.

Briefly, there was talk of establishing a replacement theatre behind Monmouth House, where Sainsbury later opened a supermarket, but the decision was rejected. The future of the Palace was further secured when it was registered as a Grade II listed building in the 1980s.

In September, 2004, the theatre reopened after a two year £8.8million lottery-funded refurbishment, which included two bars, a daytime café and new seating.

In October, 2015, the theatre won the Promotion of Diversity Award (joint winners with Leicester Curve) at the UK Theatre Awards.

Watford Colosseum was built 30 years after the Palace Theatre, opening in 1938 as the Watford Town Hall Assembly Rooms. It was designed by Charles Cowles-Voysey and acoustician Hope Bagenal, whose other projects include the refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall and the construction of the Royal Festival Hall.

The Colosseum is renowned for its acoustic qualities. It has been used to record the soundtracks of The Lord of the Rings, The Sound of Music and Star Wars. In 1995, Pavarotti came to Watford Colosseum to record Verdi’s Inno della Nazioni with the Philharmonic Chorus. More recently, recordings from BBC Concert Orchestra have taken place in the auditorium.

The acoustics were analysed in 2009, and it was reported that the size and shape of the hall, the flat floor, and the materials used in construction allow for such quality and clarity of sound to make it amongst the best in Europe.

The stage at Watford Colosseum has seen performances from Elton John, Genesis, One Direction, Robbie Williams, Oasis, Jools Holland, and many more.

The venue underwent a major refurbishment in 2010-11.

Today, Watford Colosseum is visited by well-known comedians such as Jimmy Carr and Sean Lock, as well as hosting regular music nights. Watford Palace Theatre is home to plays, musicals and community events, including an upcoming amateur production of Legally Blonde and an evening of entertainment celebrating Diwali. Both have survived the advent of cinema and television, and continue to attract visitors from Watford and beyond.