Impresario and playwright Laurence Cowen built the original theatre on what used to be the site of the old Albion Tavern. The theatre opened as the Fortune Thriller Theatre on 8 August 1924, the first to be constructed in London post-World War I. Fortune Theatre was refurbished in 1960 and received its Grade II listing in May 1994 by the English Heritage. For much of the 20th Century, Fortune Theatre operated as a Receiving House, where it exclusively hosted touring shows rather than its own resident productions. Over the years, it has hosted many kinds of performances apart from plays and musicals, such as comedy shows from Flanders and Swann and Beyond the Fringe. Lily Savage’s video, ‘Paying the Rent’, had also used the theatre in 1993.

Cowen appointed theatre architect Ernest Schaufelberg — also the main architect of the Adelphi Theatre — to design the Fortune Theatre in an Italianate style. The theatre is one of the first buildings in London to experiment with concrete; its façade is primarily made of bush-hammered concrete, with brick piers supporting the roof. Fortune Theatre has a famous figurine of Terpsichore perched high above the entrance, which was sculpted by M. H. Crichton of the Bromsgrove Guild, from Worcestershire. Some other striking features of the theatre include bronze double doors, a foyer made of grey and red marble, and a beaten copper ticket booth.

Fortune Theatre opened on 8 August 1924, with Sinners by Lawrence Cowen, the theatre’s owner. During its time as a receiving house, actors such as Dame Judi Dench, Dirk Bogarde and Maureen Lipman appeared in performances at the Fortune Theatre. Another popular production was Nunsense, which was staged in 1987. The theatre was also the home of one of the longest-running plays in West End history, The Woman in Black from August 1989 to March 2023. For the first time since 1989, a new musical production opened in March 2023 at the Fortune Theatre called Operation Mincemeat.

• Train: The closest station to Fortune Theatre is the Charing Cross Station, located 18 minutes away on foot.
  
• Tube: The nearest tube station is Covent Garden, served by the Piccadilly line. It is a mere five-minute walk from the theatre. Leicester Square station is also close.
  
• Bus: Hop off at the Covent Garden bus stop served by routes 24, 29 or 176. 
  
• Parking: Chinatown and Trafalgar Square car parks are the closest Q-Parks near the Fortune Theatre, where you can get discounted parking fees with validated theatre tickets. 
  
• Recommended Modes of Transport: The tube is the easiest mode of public transportation to reach the venue.

• Washrooms: The theatre has washrooms on the premises. There are ladies' toilets on all levels and toilets for gents on the Stalls and Upper Circle levels.
  
• Bar: The venue has a licensed bar at each level — Stalls, Upper Circle and Dress Circle. 
  
• Air Conditioning: Fortune Theatre is air-conditioned. 
  
• Box Office: You can head to the Box Office to purchase tickets, ask queries regarding the performances, and inquire about seating arrangements. 
  
• Cloakroom: The theatre has a small cloakroom where you can store small items for a small charge.

• Access Seating: Differently-abled visitors are advised to apprise the venue in advance of their requirements to be assigned appropriate seats. 
  
• Dress Recommendation: There is no official dress code at the Fortune Theatre. We recommend smart casual attire.
  
• Arrive Early: We recommend that you arrive 20 minutes before the start of the performance, as latecomers may not be permitted to enter the auditorium till a suitable break. You can spend time at the cafe for a pre-performance drink. 
  
• Opening Hours: The auditorium is open for guests 30 minutes before the performance.
  
• Cloakroom Items: A cloakroom is available at the theatre but is only suitable for storing small items. Do not carry large items as they may be refused.