Theatres - Fortune Theatre

Currently Showing (return to list of shows)

The Woman In Black ( Fortune Theatre ) - Play

This summer The Woman in Black is celebrating its 22nd birthday in the West End. Since 1989, over 7 million people have lived to tell the tale of one of the most exciting, spooky, gripping and successful theatre events ever staged. Unanimously acclaimed by the critics, Stephen Mallatratt's adaptation of Susan Hill's best selling novel combines the power and intensity of live theatre with a cinematic quality inspired by the world of film noir. It is a formula that provides audiences with an evening of unremitting drama as they are transported into a terrifying and ghostly world. Now in its 20th year, over 4 million people have lived to tell the tale of one of the most exciting, gripping and successful theatre events ever staged. Please be advised that there is a large possibility of school groups being present at The Woman In Black, especially for Monday to Thursday performances. What our staff thinks: Some people are much easier to scare than others and I don't think of myself as a person to be easily frightened - but there were some moments when I jumped in my seat - I only jumped but some girls were screaming out loudly in fright - followed by a giggle!

Fortune Theatre

Russell Street, Covent Garden
London WC2B 5HH

Nearest Tube: Covent Garden
Nearest Bus Stop: 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 59, 68, 76, 77A, 91, 139, 168, 171, 172, 188, 243, 341, 521, RV1
Nearest Train Station: Charing Cross
Nearest Parking: Charing Cross

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 theatre is noted for having a 'hanging freehold' with the adjacent Scottish National Church - a corridor belonging to the Church runs along one side of the theatre's auditorium at ground level, with the stalls level under it, the Dress Circle level alongside it, and the Upper Circle above it. The theatre was renovated in 1960.

Somewhat appropriately (or perhaps, rather unappropriately) considering the closeness this theatre has with the Church next door, the first production to be staged at this theatre was Laurence Cowan's play called "Sinners".

The theatre has had a rather chequered history as far as productions go. The first 'hit' here was "On Approval", a comedy of manners by Frederick Lonsdale, which had a run of just over one year in 1927. Then in 1957 the Flanders and Swan revue "At The Drop Of A Hat" run for 733 performances. In 1961 Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller staged their revue called "Beyond The Fringe" here - the show run for 1,184 performances before transferring to the Mayfair Theatre. In 1979 the play "Murder In The Vicarage" had a run of 1,758 performances. The record for the Fortune Theatre's longest run though goes to "The Woman In Black", a thriller adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from a novel by Susan Hill, which originally opened at the Strand Theatre on 15 February 1989 before transferring to the Playhouse Theatre on 18 April 1989 and then finally to the Fortune Theatre on 7 June 1989.