Fortune Theatre
Address:
Fortune Theatre
Russell Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2B 5HH
Directions:
Take the Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden and exit into the piazza. The theatre is approximately 5 minutes walk.
Access:
Air-Conditioned
Map
Train
Nearest Underground
Covent Garden
Train
Charing Cross
Nearest Car Park : NCP on Whitcomb Street
The Fortune Theatre History
The Fortune Theatre is located in Russell Street, Covent Garden in London, and was opened on Saturday, 8th November 1924, built on the site of the old Albion Tavern – the first London theatre to be built after World War I.
It’s opening play was Sinners which was penned by Laurence Cowen. Unfortunately for Cowen, the play only ran for two weeks! Over the course of the following years, there were many other productions, including some amateur work in the 1930s. World War II even saw the venue being used by ENSA, the concert party corp of the Forces.
Since then, the Fortune has seen many celebrated actors and actresses perform on it’s stage. Amongst the impressive roll call are Dame Judi Dench, Dirk Bogarde and Maureen Lipman, who famously portrayed the late Joyce Grenfall in her one woman show, ‘Re-Joyce’. Variety stars Flanders and Swann played here and The Fortune was home to the ground- breaking revue from Cambridge, Beyond The Fringe. That run saw the original line-up of Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller perform together. Other shows that ran here include Mr Cinders, Double Double, Nunsense and Dangerous Obsession.
The Fortune is most closely associated, of course, with it’s current production The Woman In Black which has become a West End legend. This enigmatic and brilliant play, taken from the novel by Susan Hill, first took up residence at The Fortune in 1989. The theatre and the show celebrated 5000 performances in July 2001 with a huge party, which was held in the Stalls Bar and the auditorium! Everyone present agreed that it was a most unforgettable and enjoyable occasion.
For many years, The Fortune was privately owned, but in December 2001, it became part of the hugely successful Ambassador Theatre Group and joined ATG’s nine other West End theatres.
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