Knowledge of London says: "One of the earliest theatres, the Fortune Theatre . . . was first opened in 1600 by Philip Henslowe and Edward Allen {Alleyn}. It burnt down in 1621 and was rebuilt soon afterwards only to be destroyed again by fire in 1649 only this time deliberately by a fanatical Puritan soldier."
This was clearly a theatrical area, since, nearby on the corner of Fortune Street and Golden Lane was a Nursery - a training school for young actors. Samuel Pepys’ diary entry for 2nd August 1664 reads :
"I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew {a dramatist and theatre manager}, who tells me that he is setting up a Nursery; that is, is going to build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have common plays acted. But four operas it shall have in the year, to act six weeks at a time; where we shall have the best scenes and machines, the best musique, and every thing as magnificent as is in Christendome; and to that end hath sent for voices and painters and other persons from Italy".
The Fortune Theatre in WC2 was named after this one.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
