On Monday 6th June, The Woman in Black celebrates its 27th anniversary in the West End at the Fortune Theatre. Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel has terrified over 7 million theatregoers since it first opened. Robin Herford’s gripping production is a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror. The West End show and tour are produced by PW Productions - the company behind the New Arts Theatre at Leicester Square. Now, the … [Read more...]
Fortune Theatre London - The Woman in Black - News, Reviews & Tickets
The Woman In Black
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.
The borders between fantasy and reality begin to fade and the flesh begins to creep…
The Woman In Black
Fortune Theatre
London
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 8.00pm
Matinees: Tuesday 3.00pm and Saturday 4.00pm
Running Time: 2 hours
Age Restrictions: The Woman in Black is on the National Curriculum for English and Drama, so some performances (especially matinees and on weekdays) are likely to have school groups in attendance.
Important Info: This play is not suitable for those with a nervous disposition or who cannot handle sudden shocks. 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.
The Fortune Theatre London
Russell Street, London, WC2B 5HH
Fortune Theatre Seating Plan
Venue and Travel Information
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden
Tube Lines: Piccadilly
Directions from nearest tube: (5 minutes) Go right on Long Acre; turn right into Bow Street and after 100 metres go left on Russell Street, from where the theatre logo can be seen.
Railway Station: Charing Cross
Bus Numbers: (Aldwych) RV1, 6, 11, 13, 23, 59, 68, 87, 171, 172, 188, X68
Night Bus Numbers: (Aldwych) 6, 23, 188, N11, N13, N26, N47, N68, N87, N89, N155, N171, N551
Car Park: Drury Lane, Parker Street (5 minutes)
Within Congestion Zone: Yes
Venue Facilities: Air conditioned, Bar, Infrared hearing loop, Toilets
Fortune Theatre Brief History
An intimate traditional style proscenium arch theatre in Art Deco style.
The Fortune Theatre opened in 1924, the first theatre to be built in London following the conclusion of the First World War. The theatre is situated on the site of the old Albion Tavern.
The Fortune Theatre’s original building plans were discovered by Richard L. Hay, who used the plans to design and build the Elizabethan Stage at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. The Fortune Theatre once described as This most intimate of theatres opened on Saturday, 8th November 1924.
The theatre’s opening play was Sinners which was penned by Laurence Cowen, who had also commissioned the architect to design the theatre. Unfortunately for Cowen the play only ran for a short period of two weeks! During the following few years there were a number of other productions, including amateur shows in the 1930s. During World War II the venue was used by ENSA, the concert party group of the Armed Forces.
Since that time the Fortune Theatre has had many notable actors and actresses perform on its stage. These include Dame Judi Dench, Dirk Bogarde and Maureen Lipman, who portrayed the Joyce Grenfall in her one woman show, Re-Joyce. Variety stars Flanders and Swann performed at The Fortune Theatre and was home to the revue from Cambridge, Beyond The Fringe. This provided us with the original line-up of Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller. Other significant shows that ran at the Fortune include Mr Cinders, Double Double, Nunsense and Dangerous Obsession.
The Fortune Theatre is associated strongly with its current production The Woman In Black, which has become a mainstay of the West End. This enigmatic and brilliant play was first seen at the Fortune in 1989. The theatre and the show achieved the landmark of 5000 performances in July 2001 where there was a party, which was held in the Stalls Bar and the auditorium!
For many years, The Fortune Theatre was independently owned, but in December 2001, it was added to the Ambassador Theatre Group and joined ATG’s other West End theatres.
Find tickets for The Woman In Black
Malcolm James and Matt Connor star in The Woman In Black
A new cast will take to the stage of the Fortune Theatre this evening in The Woman In Black, one of the most exciting, gripping and successful theatre events ever performed, now in its 27th year in the West End in a production revisited by original director Robin Herford. Malcolm James plays the role of Arthur Kipps and Matt Connor plays The Actor. Malcolm James reclaims the role of Arthur Kipps after starring in the national tour of The Woman in Black. His recent theatre credits include … [Read more...]
Father and son Christopher Godwin and Tom Godwin in The Woman In Black
A father and son pairing started this week in The Woman In Black, one of the most exciting, gripping and successful theatre events ever performed, now in its 26th year in the West End in a production revisited by original director Robin Herford. Christopher Godwin plays Arthur Kipps and Tom Godwin plays The Actor. Christopher Godwin’s recent theatre credits include The Two Merchants of Modena (RSC), The Crucible (Old Vic), Versailles (Donmar Warehouse), This House (National Theatre), A … [Read more...]
The stage play hit the big time on the big screen – The Woman In Black
Over the years there have been plenty of films that have been made into musicals and musicals made into films – the first big-screen version of Les Miserables starts filming this year. Much as I may be looking forward to this particular development, the back-and-forth predictability of this relationship between film and musical is in danger of becoming a touch tired: so how nice it is to see the stage play reclaiming some of the attention for itself. The film adaption of War Horse is currently … [Read more...]