Watford Palace Theatre is soon to reopen but during lockdown they took the opportunity to build a big and exciting new park stage.

The Stage is a brand new 500 seater venue in the heart of award winning Cassiobury Park. Co-producing with Watford Palace Theatre and Watford Borough Council are West End theatre makers and Watford residents Harlequin Theatricals.

The venue will adopt a festival vibe with “inclusivity and diversity at its heart”, presenting a range of theatre, comedy and live music, as well as offering a fully licenced bar, food and stalls from local suppliers and creative businesses, from the 23 July to the 8 August 2021.

The broad programme will include a performance from the recently established Palace Young Company, and will appeal to all, with opportunities for the community and local creatives to engage.

James Williams, Associate Director at Watford Palace Theatre says: “We’re looking forward to meeting new young creative voices and performers in the town – contact us on takepart@watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk if you’d you like to get involved.”

Dan Clarkson of Harlequin Theatricals says “It is with great excitement that we are able to bring The Stage in The Park to Cassiobury this summer. Sharing this brand-new outdoor experience with the community means so much to us. I am delighted to be collaborating with both Watford Borough Council and the Watford Palace Theatre, presenting a dynamic season of diverse cultural entertainment from popular children’s shows to top comedy performances, from electrifying music to engaging community theatre, from emerging local artists to well known names. This is a chance for us all to safely come back together and enjoy the arts like never before right here on

Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said “In Watford we are rightly proud of the range of wonderful cultural and entertainment events organised throughout the year. Despite the recent challenges, I am so pleased that we will be able to bring our town together in this way. Working with Watford Palace Theatre and Harlequin Theatricals, we are looking forward be showcasing some of the country’s top artists and performers, supporting local jobs and businesses and providing fantastic events for people of all ages. Arts, entertainment and culture will play a vital part in rebuilding our confidence and enthusiasm for life and whilst Imagine Watford will not run as it normally does I know that many of us are really excited about these plans. We will transform Watford’s outdoor spaces into places of wonder and excitement, with dance, comedy and art in COVID-secure settings. I can’t wait to enjoy some fantastic performances across our town.”

For those who are ready to return to the venue, Watford Palace Theatre is offering a series of socially distanced film screenings of hit West End and Sadler’s Wells shows Kinky Boots, 42nd Street and Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet.

Artistic director Brigid Larmour said “We’re very happy to be back! – outdoors, indoors and online, doing what we love best, with and for the community around us. We’re proud to be supporting local freelance and independent artists in our Homegrown programme, and thrilled to be working with our friends Chris and Dan, local independent producers, on The Stage in the Park, in the stunning surroundings of Cassiobury. Collaboration is in our DNA”