Fortune Theatre

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.

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!

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!

I went to The Woman in Black and I loved it!!! has to be one of the best shows I’ve seen in the west end! basically the main problem with this theatre is the space for the toilets! i. e none. but amazing show!

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.

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.

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)

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 ;)

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 Unilocaled (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. :)

After
watching the matinée show of The Woman in Black last Tuesday the Fortune
Theatre, I realised why it lists among one of West End’s longest running shows.
The ghostly story has been splendidly recreated to give you goose pimples.

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!

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…

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!