Building    From 8/11/1924 

Fortune Theatre - WC2

Categories: Theatre

Designed by Ernest Schaufelberg, this was the first London theatre to be built after the end of WW1, and one of the first buildings in London to to use ferro-concrete construction. Built on the site of the Albion tavern. Due to a right of way the passage to the Crown Court Church of Scotland is buried in the fabric of the theatre, on the south-west side. One of the smaller theatres in London, it was commissioned by Laurence Cowen who also wrote the opening play, Sinners!, which sadly ran for only 2 weeks. 'Beyond The Fringe' initially ran here.

Originally named the Fortune Thriller Theatre, possibly after the Fortune Theatre in EC1. Some sources give August as the opening month but Arthur Lloyd convincingly gives November.

Sources include: Theatre-Tickets.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Fortune Theatre - WC2

Commemorated ati

Fortune Theatre - WC2

{Above a stylised picture of two performers:} Fortune Theatre. A 'jewel of a ...

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Laurence Cowen

The dates on the plaque indicate the anticipated period of construction, but ...

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Other Subjects

Sir Derek Jacobi

Sir Derek Jacobi

Actor. Born Derek George Jacobi in Leytonstone. He was invited by Sir Laurence Olivier to be a founder member of the Royal National Theatre. Probably best known for playing the eponymous lead in th...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Ruthie Henshall

Ruthie Henshall

Actor, dancer and singer. Born in Bromley as Valentine Ruth Henshall. She has appeared in many west end productions, including 'Cats', 'Chicago' and 'Les Miserables'. Nominated five times for an Ol...

Person, Dance, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
Albert Chevalier

Albert Chevalier

Music hall comedian, singer and musical theatre actor. Born at St Ann's Villas where the plaque now is, to a French father and Welsh mother. Married Florence, daughter of George Leybourne. His ful...

Person, Humour, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
Sir Gerald du Maurier

Sir Gerald du Maurier

Actor-manager. Born at 27 Church Row, the last and fifth child of George du Maurier. As a child he would pose for his father's drawings. A close associate of J M Barrie he was the first actor to pl...

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, CH, DBE.

Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, CH, DBE.

Actress. Margaret Natalie Smith, known professionally as Maggie Smith, was born on 28 December 1934 in Ilford, Essex, the youngest of the three children of Nathaniel Smith (1902-1991) and Margaret ...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre, TV & Radio, USA

1 memorial

Previously viewed

C. G. Middleton

C. G. Middleton

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
112 people killed in the Harrow rail crash
3 memorials
T. Hooker

T. Hooker

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Edith Cavell plaque

Edith Cavell plaque

E2, Kingsland Road

Cavell was executed by the Germans in Brussels and she figures on our sister site, BrusselsRemembers.

War dead | WW1
2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
British Association of Dermatologists

British Association of Dermatologists

W1, Fitzroy Square, 4

Robert Willan was the founder of dermatology in Britain, so it's fairly certain that the house is named after him.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators