Fortune Theatre

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Russell Street
London
WC2B 5HH

	There are two bars at The Fortune Theatre. Also available are ice-cream and confectionery.
	Accessible To A Wheelchair User Able To Walk Short Distances And Up A Few Steps
	NCP at Drury Lane is close to The Fortune Theatre.
	Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) is the tube station closest to The Fortune Theatre.
	Charing Cross is the British Rail Station closest to The Fortune Theatre.
	Bus Routes: 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 68, 76, 171, 276, 188
HISTORY	Fortune Theatre    A small intimate traditional style proscenium arch theatre in the 'Art Deco style', this was the first West End theatre to be built after the First World War.   The Fortune Theatre was opened in 1924, being the first London theatre to be built after the First World War. The theatre stands on the site of the old Albion Tavern. The Fortune Theatre’s original building plans were discovered by Richard L. Hay, who used the exact plans to design and build the Elizabethan Stage at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. The Fortune Theatre, once so described as ''This most intimate of theatres'' first opened to the public on Saturday, 8th November 1924.   The Fortune’s opening play was Sinners which was penned by Laurence Cowen, who commissioned the architect to design the theatre. 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 Theatre has seen many celebrated actors and actresses perform on its 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 Theatre is most closely associated, of course, with its current production The Woman In Black which has become a West End legend. This enigmatic and brilliant play first took up residence at The Fortune Theatre 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 Theatre 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.

 Fortune Theatre – Seating Plan

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