The Fortune Theatre
Russell Street, London, WC2B 5HH

Nearest underground:
Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)

Nearest rail:
Charing Cross

The art deco style Fortune theatre opened in 1924 and was designed by architect Ernest Schaufelberg, who also sculpted the charming gilded figure Nude Girl which adorns the theatre’s façade. The theatre’s location is rather unusual in that it shares the site with a Presbyterian church. The Crown Court Church of Scotland (rebuilt 1909) has an imposing entrance integrated into the front of the theatre and the theatre’s auditorium is built under and around the kirk.

The theatre’s first production, Sinners, ran for a disappointing two weeks but in later years the theatre has had an enviable string of hits, including famously, the revue Beyond the Fringe (1961-64). This ground-breaking show, written (and performed) by Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller ran for well over 1,000 performances. The current show The Woman in Black has now been pulling in the crowds for over 15 years. The front of the theatre is covered with press reports warning of the terrifying nature of this ghost story, presented by just two actors and very little in the way of scenery or props. There are numerous reports of whole audiences screaming in terror and the play continues to attract theatregoers to a great extent just on word of mouth - a real theatrical event!

What's on at Fortune Theatre

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