The Fortune is one of the smallest and most intimate theatres in the West End, with just 432 seats across three levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle. With a theatre this size, you’re close to the action wherever you sit.
The Stalls are 21 steps down from the foyer, with handrails throughout. Being so close to a small stage, this is where you’ll feel most immersed in the show.
The Dress Circle is just 7 steps up from the back of the auditorium, making it one of the easier levels to reach. Seats F6-7 are the easiest for wheelchair transfers, and there’s a non-transferring wheelchair space at F16 next to the platform lift exit.
The Upper Circle is the top tier, 40 steps up from ground level. It’s the most affordable way to see the show, and given the theatre’s small size, you’re still pretty close to the stage.
The Fortune Theatre is tucked just off the Strand, close to Covent Garden. The nearest tube station is Covent Garden, about a 5-6 minute walk away, with Leicester Square, Charing Cross and Holborn all within 10-15 minutes if you fancy the walk.
The Fortune Theatre opened on 8th November 1924, designed by architect Ernest Schaufelberg in an elegant Italianate style. It’s one of the smallest theatres in the West End, and its most famous chapter was an extraordinary 34-year run of Susan Hill’s ghost story The Woman in Black, which played here from 1989 all the way to 2023, passing its 5,000th performance back in 2001.
When The Woman in Black finally closed in March 2023, it marked the first time since 1989 that a new production had opened at the Fortune. That production was Operation Mincemeat, which has gone on to become a hit in its own right, extending its booking window over and over again. The theatre has also hosted performances by Dame Judi Dench, Dirk Bogarde and Maureen Lipman over the years, and it’s owned and operated by ATG Entertainment.
The Fortune Theatre has a capacity of 432 across its three levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle, making it one of the smallest theatres in the West End.
The Fortune Theatre is owned and operated by ATG Entertainment.
It opened on 8th November 1924.
Operation Mincemeat has been the resident production at the Fortune since March 2023 and is currently booking through to May 2027.
Yes, a platform lift at the Crown Court side entrance gives access to the Dress Circle, with a non-transferring wheelchair space at seat F16.
The Fortune is a small, intimate theatre, but its Upper Circle is properly high up – you’ll climb around 40 steps from the foyer to reach it, there’s no lift, and the theatre itself advises this level isn’t suited to anyone with limited mobility. The Stalls and Dress Circle are much easier going and give you a closer, lower vantage point if you’re prone to vertigo. If you’re unsure, it’s worth calling the box office to check exactly how steep your row is before booking.
Covent Garden is the closest, about a 5-6 minute walk away.
It’s a small, intimate theatre, so you won’t go far wrong wherever you sit. The Dress Circle is easiest to reach if stairs are a concern, being just 7 steps up.
The Woman in Black holds that record by a huge margin, running here for 34 years from 1989 to 2023.
You can book tickets for Operation Mincemeat directly through ATG Tickets. I’d always recommend booking directly through the official venue site rather than a third-party reseller.
