This is a small theatre. My friend and I saw Operation Mincemeat here, which was fun, and the musical sounded good -- acoustics seemed good to me. There are scattered merch stores/bars throughout. The seats are comfortable with a surprising amount of leg room. The women's toilets were some of the smallest toilets I have ever seen. My knees almost touched the doors when I sat down. It was entertaining. I recommend seeing a play/musical/something here if what you want to see is here. read more

Fortune Theatre - View from stalls H14 - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

Gayle and I recently took in a performance of "Operation Mincemeat" at the Fortune Theater. The show was amazing and our front row balcony seats allowed an up close view of the show. The Fortune Theater was built in 1924 and is one of the Covent Garden's smallest venues. There's definitely a felling of intimate atmosphere and for us and others, the stage does bring the West End up close and personal, and with a lot of great seats to see a show. That also means that the seating here is tight, with leg room at a premium. But with a great show, we didn't really care! I know when Gayle really likes a performance when she clamps fast and enthusiastically during and after. I saw that several times during this production, plus (to my surprise) a lot of hooting and hollering. She later told me and others that this was the best play she's seen since Hamilton. And who know that a musical comedy based on a WW2 deceit could be so good! Many thanks to the recommendation of Gayle's former newspaper colleague Glenn Rosenkrantz to see this show and "Standing at the Sky's Edge" (which we greatly enjoyed a couple days later). Both shows are a bit England-centric, so they may not come to the States. But if they do (or you're in London), our theatre-loving friends should not miss the chance to see them. read more

Fortune Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

Saw 'Operation Mincemeat' which was a great production featuring outstanding performances however I sat on the main floor, stalls or orchestra section depending on where you come from and due to the height of the stage (which is higher than normal theaters), I'd prefer sitting in the front room of the first balcony. The seats slope up on top of it all as this is a much smaller venue than other West End theaters and a heck of a lot smaller than Broadway theaters. Bar serves drinks in glassware which is a headscratcher as there's nowhere to put it at your seat which causes lots of tipping noises throughout the show. A bit bizarre. Also as with all stage shows in London, it's so odd they don't give away free Playbills/Stagebills as you never know the key info like actors and producers bios. Never understood that and always feel bad for the actors who get even less notoriety. Wish they'd change that as they can cover the cost of printing through ads (and even find it as a revenue center). read more

Hat tip to Abbie and Ian on the recommendation that if I could only see one theatre production in London, it should be The Woman In Black. Walking into the rather diminutive, unassuming Fortune Theatre, I kind of questioned the £60 price tag per ticket (which were admittedly amazing third row orchestra seats). All question left my mind by partway through the show, because you're legitimately -in- the action that close to the stage. I've not read the book or seen the film with Daniel Radcliffe, nor did I do much research about the show before heading to the theatre, so I went into the experience with few expectations, other than that it was quite the suspenseful thriller. My friend, who dislikes scary things, also indicated a certain level of anxiety as well. I will say that I didn't have nightmares or had to flip on extra lights later that evening, but a -lot- of the audience was jumpy during the show. If you don't handle surprises very well, a la loud noises and shocking entries, you may want to shy away from seeing this show. But what really made The Woman In Black sparkle for me was the acting. For having two performers on a relatively small stage, I was absolutely riveted the entire time. There are storylines within storylines within storylines. Plus, these two gents play at least a half dozen parts between them. Now, you'd expect this to be a confusing matter, but between costume changes and flawless shifts in mannerisms, you really do imagine a rich cast of players telling the story. This was a totally different experience than seeing a light-hearted musical; you won't leave uplifted, but I'm guaranteed you'll be moved by the artistry of these actors and the haunting plot they play out. Definitely one to go watch with a friend... one that doesn't frighten easily... read more

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Sir Mix a Lot would love this place! Why do I say that? Because the seats are so generous! Saw "Woman in Black" here and was surprised with a roomy, comfortable second row seat. My knees didn't press up against the chair in front of me, a had room to sit to the side if I chose....It was a comfortable theater experience, which is unheard of in NYC. The show was fine. Actors were good, story dragged at times, the use of fake fog was tremendous overkill. However, all in all, a great venue to see a show. read more

Fortune Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

We had the good fortune to visit Fortune Theatre last week and see "Woman In Black" Playing for the past 21 years, I'd never heard of this staple in London theatre....it's always Mousetrap, Mousetrap, Mousetrap But what about Woman In Black?! Theatre is nicely situated and views are good from any seat - we were in the back of the lower balcony. The seats themselves are comfy although extremely small.....the guy beside me was practically in my lap Temperature is good - maybe a tad warm but we were okay. Sound was okay as well w/ speakers right behind us The actors (all 2 of them) were stupendous! They played multiple parts & were very convincing. Major props!! Touted to be "THE MOST TERRIFYING LIVE THEATRE EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD".....we couldn't resist Most terrifying? No. But we definitely gave them spooky & well worth the ticket! read more

Fortune Theatre - Fortune Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

Admittedly I am more a popular musicals fan (i.e. Les Miserables, Wicked, Lion King etc) than theatre. However, I got a discount off getintolondontheatre for their annual Jan-Feb event and decided that The Woman In Black was the one I have heard the best about and bought tickets. I did not know anything except that this was a ghost story (my mum had watched it years ago) but was excited to see how they would portray phantoms in theatre. This play did not disappoint, I was engrossed in the story, which was easy to follow. It was amazing how they could have only 2 speaking actors (and a ghost), made use of very few props and relied on sound effects to scare the audience. For the first half of the play I was constantly scared and was hiding behind my hands, but since the interval I think the sudden screams, big noises etc was a bit repetitive and although the rest of the audience were still screaming all the same, I personally thought it was a bit overdone by that time. Still, I would say that this play has a very simple storyline, was told in a very interesting manner and worth a watch if you wanted a good scare as entertainment! As a last comment on the venue itself, they had a very impolite ice cream lady who was quite rude to guests, there were 3 ladies' toilets only and the one I went to had only two stalls resulting in a long ladies queue outside during the interval, the stalls seating otherwise gave good vantage on the stage. I also didn't like the fact that the theatre let guests in 20 minutes after the play started meaning my whole row had to stand up to let two people into the row while the play was running (there was a very short 3 second curtain where they let these two late guests in) read more

Fortune Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

Like all ye landlubbers 'ere, me was thinkin' before this play- a 2 (or 3) person play be horrifying? Pah! This cosair has entered haunted houses and seen horror movies, a play be nothin' for me! And me watched ye one with ye Harry Potter in it too! Me be knowin' ye story by heart! Alas! This solo seafarer went alone, and spent many turns' of ye hour hidden under her coat! Me eyes be dartin' down whenever ye woman in black appeared! A nasty-looking seadog, that one be! Ye first part o' ye journey was pretty smooth, and me be thinkin' the ye reviews' be fluffin' too much. But after the intermission, me heart be poundin' like me ship was stuck in a whirlpool out at sea! Don't be goin' if ye have a weak heart! Be still me beatin' heart! 25 years o' reviews can't be wrong! read more

I know, I know, another 5 star theatre review, but when you have seen this play 5 times, your partner Ian P has seen it 6/7 times and his mother has seen it at least 7 times, you know it is good. Not for the faint hearted but definitely for those who like suspense and a thril, this is one of the most gripping, geniously staged plays on in the West End at the moment, and has been on in the West End for 23 years. Based on the book by Susan Hill, The Woman in Black dramatises a chiller of a ghost story with only 2 people on stage and a lot of imagination. But the calibre of the actors that take on the roles featured in the play are of such a high standard that you see exactly what they see in their minds eye, despite there being minimal props. Arthur Kipps tells of his experiences at the illusive Eel Marsh house when he goes there as a solicitor to go through the recently deceased's belongings. DO NOT expect to see all the fancy tricky of the recent film, this play plays on all elements of suspense and trickery to leave you with one of the most unforgetable theatre exeriences. The film also diverges from the book and the play a lot so just forget Daniel Radcliffe alltogether! Cheap tickets can be found on the internet, in ticket booths, there are no really bad seats in The Fortune Theatre but because there are only 2 people on stage, if you want to see more expression on their faces do get a better seat. Allow your mind to be influenced by everything in this play - at whatever cost!! xyz read more

4 stars for the unique experience. Why not catch a performance of the Woman in Black before it hits the big screen? I will say that while the show was not "the most terrifying theatre experience on the planet yadda yadda," it left two young women behind me in absolute panic and tears. So why three stars? 1. Ticket prices are iffy. I purchased my pair for £70 total, advertised at a 50% discount. I saw tickets in my area priced at £25. Student discount? Mayhaps. There were quite a few students (80%) to see this production. Still rubs me the wrong way though. 2. Bathrooms are terrible. Unmaintained, small, cramped, arduous long lines, dirty, essentially all manner of skeptical. I am very critical of venues that do not offer clean bathrooms. 3. Shallow seating. The seats are sunken, the rows are shallow, and the orchestra rises very little as it moves toward the back of the theatre. I am quite small, yet felt cramped. And my view was partially barred at various moments throughout the show. Though the Fortune Theatre averages at 3 stars, I still applaud the minimalist effort of the production (little in the way of staging, and only two actors). And I found the entire experience as an interesting experiment in inducing fear. So I ultimately walked away satisfied and exhilarated. I continue to recommend this show to my friends. read more

I love the woman in black and this theatre! I am the sort of geek that might make a small involuntary scream at scary films in the cinema (it's quite embarrassing.) I found this play to be a creepy sort of scary...with several 'jumpy' moments that made my heart lurch. I don't think I screamed out loud, but I did grab my friend's hand a few times - much to her amusement. There were nervous giggles from around the theatre after each 'jumpy' scary moment...so I guess other people must be as easily affected as me! The theatre itself was perfect for this show, old, cosy and sort of scary. We had seats in the dress circle which turned out to be very close to the stage so we could see perfectly. The reason I removed a star: The theatre seems to be old enough to have been built with smaller Londoners in mind! The corridors/loos/seats were all very narrow and made me feel a bit like a blundering giant!! read more

There's always been something about the theatre, about a stage performance that always kept me wanting more. The thrill of being in the presence of some wonderfully talented people. Sitting inside,knowing that many before you have seen and heard the tale. That many screams, shivers and laughter have echoed off those walls. Its a reminder of time, its continuous ways...just like the tale of the woman in black. Based on a thriller fiction novel by Susan Hall- Marvellously acted out by only four people. Thats correct, the versatile actors magnificently utilised the stage with mere 4-5 props and a back drop. The sounds were fantastic. Like Chinese whispers Id heard rumours that of the frighten ways of the play. How its would make your shivering in fear to your very core. Unfortunately to say, and perhaps your good fortune, that is not the case. If you are scared easiest, well.... :) If you are not scared that easily than its a good thriller, I, infact jumped and screamed once. Overall excellent performance, It speaks to the heart, travels to the brain and leaves its fingerprints to haunt you. excellent to see during the christmas period too. read more

Now I LOVE the theatre. It always gives me an uplifting feeling. So how can a play be scary? I never understood it. I DO NOW. OH MY GOD I nearly soiled myself many times. Such a clever play, so simple and yet SO scary. No wonder The Woman in Black has been going for so long. At one point there was a scary bit, the lady next to me jumped and spilt her drink on me. I actually thought that I was receiving the kiss of death from the woman in black herself. I have never jumped out of my seat so quickly and the scream that came from my mouth can only be described as a little girl scream. And I wasn't even ashamed because it made the butch, muscly man in the row in front do exactly the same. Small theatre, get middle prices tickets and you are golden. Also, don't go if you have a heart problem, it doesn't do wonders for the nerves ;) read more

6 years ago my gf took me to see the Woman in Black with some last minute £10 seats. To this day, thinking about that night, gives me shivers. With only 2(?) actors, this play has a way of tingling and fraying your nerves and spine, with dramatic suspense and directing. I had never seen this advertised but its been running for I think 25 years now! I would love to see this again, but i dont think I could take it! read more

Wanted to catch a show in London with my 3 teenagers and this one we all enjoyed. Price was good at the TKTS booth in Covent Garden. They love spooky and this one was just right for them. Acting was very good and theater was cozy. read more

Went to see this for Halloween this past weekend. And it gave us the chills. Action starts slowly, but builds up and up in a crescendo of well you'll have to get a ticket to find out. I should not spoil the experience for anyone. All I can say is that it was definitely worth the £25 Upper Circle tickets (despite the seats being incredibly cramped) and even though I have no desire to see it again (it is scary) I would definitely recommend it as it truly is an amazing performance. read more

Celebrating over 25 years in the West End, The Woman in Black is undeniably a classic and a legend. Consistently chilling throughout with captivating dialogue and simply brilliant acting this show knows no bounds. Despite being simple in its execution with a very small cast and limited props, the acting and sound effects are so superb that the story and atmosphere resonates and can leave a haunting presence in your memory forever. This is the best theatre performance by any cast that I've ever witnessed. read more

A woman in black and I went to see "A Woman in Black" at the Fortune Theatre. We had won the tickets in a raffle some time ago, and they were expiring and so we had to just go watch it. The production itself was very well done, and the cast extremely believable. Some of the scenes were a little trite, but generally speaking, it was good. There were a few scary moments in the middle and the end, with the play taking a while to build up to these moments. My friend who totally gets into the acting yelped (get it?) a few times during the scary scenes. The theatre itself is small and intimate, but drinks are pricey and toilet facilities largely cramped. The seats are comfy, and nosebleed style seating, very steeply pitched. My main gripe actually was the fact that the seats, though comfy, were actually very tight (I guess you would probably have to deal with it for being such a small theatre). It was an overall great experience in a theatre that is in a quieter part of the theatre district. Thumbs up. :) read more

Sweet old theatre, seats not too uncomfy and view from the stalls all good Went to see woman in black and did really enjoy it. Really well done with very bare, basic props and set however didn't think it was all that scary. Much better than the film but not nearly as jumpy (perhaps hampered by the stupid girl next to me who kept giggling when suspense was building!) Would recommend going to see this but not in my top few! read more

A good middle of the road play, with no big surprises or storytelling magic and the ending is a bit of a let down. But I was entertained and the shock effects actually worked rather well. Unfortunately The Fortune Theatre where it played has seen better days, and is definitely not one of London's finest. read more

Awesome show and great intermission with snacks and drinks. Only downside is the tiny old chairs, but the theater is VERY old so i understand it. read more

OH MY GOODNESS. I went to see this when I was quite young, and it scared the pants off me! Definately worth going to see.. I still get chills when I think about it too much! read more

The Woman In Black is the second-longest running play in London, after The Mousetrap. I've seen it twice. It is freakin' scary. The Fortune Theatre is not opulent like some others. It's old, dark and creaky, with cramped seats close to the stage. It suits the play. If what's hinted at, rather than what's shown, scares you, then this will scare you. If sudden shocks make you scream, you will scream (a couple of times). If tales of ghosts and revenge send a shiver up your spine, expect to be rattling in your seat. It's been playing for long enough that you should be able to get some discounted tickets, so do some Googling, but go see it. read more

I went to see this a few years ago and still talk about and recommend to friends and family to this day. It is quite chilling if you let your imagine run wild. My husband even had the woman next to him turn round and practically jump on him at one point, and she constantly kept grabbing his knee. The theatre itself is quite small and the seats don't give you much room for movement. However, if you fancy seeing something different, that is not a musical and like ghost stories this is one for you. read more

I went to see this play at The Fortune Theatre a couple of years ago, and my word, what an experience. We decided on a matinee performance, as we'd heard about this play, and didn't fancy coming out in the dark afterwards. I know, a little silly, but there you go. It's a cosy little theatre, and whilst we could only afford the 'cheap seats' it didn't feel we were any further removed from the action than what you might feel in some larger theatre's. The atmosphere permeated the whole building. I'd read a few Susan Hill novels, and they play on your imagination. I'd also seen the television version and was scared witless by it, still am. But I'm telling you, they are nothing compared to this experience. It was chilling. Two actors, an engaging story, simple set but all put together cleverly to add real tension and suspense. There are some very jumpy moments, but I won't ruin it for you. All said, you must go and see it. Take a friend, and don't worry about trying to get to a matinee performance, cos it didn't make a jot of difference. We were creeped out for weeks. Scary. read more

This is theatre at it's worst. There are two speaking parts and, of course, the "scary" woman who shows up to frighten the bejesus of the adolescents in the audience. Most of the crowd are GCSE kids on a night out and the play is designed for this. I went last week (free tickets) and almost cut my own face of with boredom when one character was explaining to the other that by pretending they were in a horse and carriage they wouldn't need an actual horse and carriage to play the scene. I honestly don't think theatre could have been more over explained. Even the kids know it's not like telly. That said the Fortune is gorgeous. Check out the ceiling during the really tedious bits. The set is quite good too. I'd bring older kids to this for sure. read more

We went to see this quite a few years ago and I am going to take my children when they are old enough. The set is very simple and the acting is outstanding. What ever happens you must stay until the end. Perhaps take a change of trousers!!!!! read more

I love the Woman in Black! It has everything a great play should have! How can a '2 hander' theatre show remain in the West End for so long? The proof is in the pudding, (or whatever it is they say)! Go see it!! read more

I am by no means a theatre expert having only been a handful of times but The Woman in Black was definitely the best time I have been to the theatre. With only 3 actors in the whole production you could say it is quite stripped back, but it really worked. Scary moments to keep you at the edge of your seat and second to none acting. Really convincing. Go see it! read more

Perfect little theatre to see the Woman in Black. It shows it's age, however the setting fits perfectly with the eeriness of the play. We were in the upper circle and could see the stage clearly. The chairs were pretty comfortable as well.There was only 1 ladies stall and one 1 person serving the bar for the entirety of the upper circle, so there was a bit of a queue. However would definitely be happy to come again and see another play. read more

The Woman in Black is a brilliant, spooky evening out - perfect for winter and Christmas time. It's not exactly Chekhov, but definitely keep you entertained! When we went it was full of school kids, but it kept 'em quiet throughout, which is an achievement. It's a good old Victorian ghost story, with plenty of jumps; my friend couldn't sleep after watching it, because he was convinced the woman was in his room! It's just nice to see an old fashioned yarn, in the era of horror films like Hostel. No one seems to make good ghost stories any more! If you're thinking of going, you should defo be able to get 2for1 tickets, by using daysoutguide.co.uk or checking on theatremonkey.co.uk read more

Go before Christmas; it's Victorian, it's creepy, it should definitely be watched when it's cold outside and preferably foggy. The Woman in Black may have been at the Fortune Theatre since God wore short trousers, but it's far from stale. It's a Christmas Eve ghost story that is being adapted for a stage show. All the action takes place with a cast of just two. With the likes of Saw V on at the cinemas, many people might think Woman in Black is a quaint distraction for tourists, too mainstream for anyone seeking a horror story. Well, many people are wrong. It's great. Take your girlfriend and wait for her to scream. read more

Often screen 'The Woman in Black' with their performances they try to be as effective as they can by using sound, smoke and lighting to capture the audiences attention. Small theatre and can be quite difficult if you happen to be tall depending on you height and clothing you may feel crammed and so it would be best if you could get a seat above or in the front. Ticket prices are quite expensive but you can get them cheaper if you go as a group. read more

Woman in Black had my heart racing as the tension slowly builds. I never thought this would be possible in a theatre surrounding but I was taken away by the acting skills and the way this play has been put together. I really recommend seeing it and I am glad it was the first play I ever went to see. read more

This is a very intimate theatre, the view is very good, facilities are good, The woman in Black hmm VERY GOOD, it was an enjoyable experience read more

You should go to this theatre for two reasons. One this is a great little theatre, though falling apart it has a great spooky atmosphere. Two the show is amazing! It is a two hander gost story. If you like gost storys then go, if you like theatre then go, if you want to act then you have to go! read more

Brilliant play with a real sense of the macabre about it. No wonder its been running for so long. I saw this on a school trip when I was younger and remembered it being excellent so took my boyfriend on a cheap ticket deal last January. It was captivating throughout, the acting was excellent and he was thoroughly spooked by the end of it. The staging is very simple and relies on the quality of the actors to carry the story. Beware those of you with long legs however, we were sitting on the lower circle and as with many old theatres, it is extremely cramped. I was slightly distracted from the performance by the lack of room and I'm only 5'7''! ( but not much!) I'd recommend the stalls instead, but definately a must see for all. read more

This is a real must see, the tickets to this great production where really cheap, think they were around £20. The threate is really small so always have good seats. There are three people in the play, two main cast members and then one person who wasn't memtioned plays the Woman in Black read more

I really enjoyed this play when I went to see it. Being warned about the women who glides down the centre of the aisle I carefully placed my friend closest to the aisle and winced every time I thought she was approaching. This feeling of nerves made an even better atmosphere inside the theatre and it created an even better overall effect and feeling for me. read more

I saw this play a while a go and forgot to review it then but its great and in a great little venue so you really have a good view, worth checking out if its still running. read more