For the New Zealand theatre, see Fortune Theatre (New Zealand)

The Fortune Theatre is the name of a historic and a present-day theatre in London.

The 17th Century Venue

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The Fortune Theatre was contemporary with Shakespeare's Globe, the Swan theatre and others. It is the only theatre from that time whose exact dimensions are known, although many details were specified to be "the same as the Globe" without further clarification. It had a square floorplan. Three floors of galleries surrounded the central yard, which was open to the sky.

The well-to-do paid extra money to see the play and be seen in the galleries, while "groundlings" could watch the play from the yard, right in front of the stage.

The stage was rectangular, extending out into the middle of the yard.

The 20th Century Venue

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The Fortune Theatre located in Russell Street, near Covent Garden in London, was opened in 1924 and stands on the site of the old Albion Tavern. It was the first theatre to be built in London after the end of World War I. It is situated next to Crown Court Church and opposite the Theatre Royal.

Since 1989 the theatre has hosted the long running play The Woman in Black, which was adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book of the same name by Susan Hill. A celebration was held in 2001 to mark the 5000th performance.

The Fortune'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 theatre's famous figurine (perched high above the entrance) was sculpted by the Bromsgrove Guild; a noted company of artisans from Worcestershire.

External links

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• The Fortune Theatre, Russell Street.
• Luminarium: The Fortune Theatre

Theatre companies | Westminster | Theatres in London | Former theatres of London