The Fortune Theatre was built in 1922-24 for the impresario Laurence Cowen by Ernest Schaufelberg and is a 432 seat west-end theatre located in Russell Street, near Covent Garden. The main façade of the theatre is principally bush-hammered concrete, with brick piers that support the roof with a grand entrance taking patrons through impressive bronze double doors. Internally, there is a foyer area that features grey and red marble, and a copper ticket booth. The theatre is situated opposite the much larger Theatre Royal Drury Lane and next to Crown Court Church and was the first theatre to be built in the capital after World War I.
It is believed to be the second smallest theatre in the west end and was extensively refurbished in 1960. The theatre has a famous figurine, 'Terpsichore' which is perched with pride of place high above the entrance and the building was Grade II listed by English Heritage in May 1994. Following the demolition of the original Wembley Stadium, the venue is now the oldest remaining public building to be designed wholly using concrete as a textured and exposed façade
The venue first opened, as the 'Fortune Thriller Theatre' in August 1924, with the first production being 'Sinners' by Lawrence Cowen who had commissioned the theatre to be built in an Italianate style. The building stands on the site of the old Albion Tavern, a public house that was famous for being frequented by both Georgian and Victorian actors.
During World War || the theatre hosted many performances by ENSA, which consisted of entertainers drawn from the armed forces. Subsequently, the theatre has been a receiving house with well-known actors such as Dame Judi Dench, Maureen Lipman and Dirk Bogarde all treading the boards there.
The resident show at the Fortune Theatre since 1989 has been the thrilling play, 'The Woman In Black', which was adapted for the stage by Stephan Mallatratt from the novel by Susan Hill.
London theatre tickets to all performances at the Fortune Theatre can be purchased securely through this website.
FAQ's About Booking Tickets At The Fortune Theatre
Is It Easy To Book Cheap Tickets To The Fortune Theatre?
The Fortune Theatre is a small and intimate venue but despite having three tiers there are actually very few of the seats in the venue that feature a restriction to the view of the stage. The current production itself features only a handful of actors so operating costs are low which means that tickets are very often good value with discounts available in all categories.
Are Upper Circle Tickets To The Fortune Theatre Good Value?
The upper circle on the 2nd floor is quite high up and a little steep, but tickets in this section of the theatre are generally very well priced with prices often starting as low as £20 and there are very few seats with restrictions to the view. Legroom can sometimes be an issue in smaller venues such as this though so it is advisable to check the seating plan prior to purchase to ensure satisfaction before booking.
Where Are The Best Seats In The Fortune Theatre?
As discount tickets are often available in all three sections of the theatre this probably boils down to personal preference. The seats in the upper circle will always be notably cheaper however in the stalls and dress circle there are good views from most positions and seats are usually very fairly priced. The centre aisle seats in the stalls are particularly good for people needing lots of legroom and the front row of the dress circle offers pretty much a perfect vantage point to see the show and are definitely recommended.
Where Should I Book Tickets To The Fortune Theatre?
During super peak periods where discounts are not available such as school holidays, Christmas etc then booking direct through the box office at the Fortune Theatre can be beneficial. During off peak periods though great value online discounts can be found through reputable websites and also the official retail outlets in and around Leicester Square. It is strongly advisable when booking online or in the shops that you check that the agent is either affiliated with or are members of The Society Of London Theatre (SOLT) and/or The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) to ensure peace of mind over your purchase.