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Latitude: 51.5133 / 51°30'47"N
Longitude: -0.1207 / 0°7'14"W
OS Eastings: 530501
OS Northings: 181047
OS Grid: TQ305810
Mapcode National: GBR KC.1P
Mapcode Global: VHGQZ.V7J8
Plus Code: 9C3XGV7H+8P
Entry Name: The Fortune Theatre
Listing Date: 23 May 1994
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1250985
English Heritage Legacy ID: 433546
ID on this website: 101250985
Location: Strand, Westminster, London, WC2B
County: London
District: City of Westminster
Electoral Ward/Division: St James's
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: City of Westminster
Traditional County: Middlesex
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Greater London
Church of England Parish: St Paul Covent Garden
Church of England Diocese: London
Tagged with: Theatre
TQ 3081 SW RUSSELL, STREET
(north-west side)
1900-/59/10035 The Fortune Theatre
GV II
Theatre. 1922-4 by Ernest Schaufelberg for Laurence Cowen, impressario. Reinforced concrete
on concrete frame, bush hammered and with panels of different aggregates, as is still exposed
at ground-floor level. Brick facings to uppermost floor, brick stacks, complex pantiled roof over
attic offices behind parapet, flat roof with lantern over stage. Auditorium for 400 people in stalls,
circle, four boxes and balcony with foyers on each floor and reached via tiny vestibule;
proscenium-arched stage with dressing rooms and offices extending over four floors on the
street elevations. Asymmetrical elevation to Russell Street around central arched opening over
entrance, topped with statue of 'Terpsichore' by M H Crichton. Regular glazing pattern of
metal lozenge-pattern windows, those to attic floor between brick piers. Staircase tower to left
over entrance to Church of Scotland (q.v., Crown Court), and canopy over ground floor.
Double entrance doors with elaborate bronze glazing and marbled panels. Side elevation with
metal windows in canted bays set between square metal lozenge-pattern openings and tall
staircase towers; five pairs of double exit doors to ground floor between bush hammered panels.
The foyer is lined in grey and red marble, and has an elaborate ticket booth of beaten copper.
Double doors with bronze panes, bronze plaques and uplighter on the stairs; copper handrail
to stalls stairs. Stalls sunk below ground level, the upper levels reached through complex series
of pass doors. Auditorium walls are simply panelled, with saw-tooth mouldings to balcony and
box fronts, and as vertical ribs ending in complex set-backs between boxes and balconies.
Handsome bronze rails to box and balcony fronts. Ceiling a series of interconnecting circles in
moulded surround, and set back with square metal panels over upper balcony. Fitted bench seats
at side of rear stalls an unusual feature.
Included as the first theatre erected after the First World War in Britain, using new materials
and in a new, Germanic style not generally adopted until the 1930s. Only Wembley stadium
pre-dates it as a public building designed using concrete as an exposed and textured decorative
facade; the concrete is set off by marble and fine metalwork in the interior.
Listing NGR: TQ3050281050
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