The Fortune Theatre

Too good to wait for the next magazine, Peter Savage has been strolling the streets of EC2 exploring the Barbican’s by-ways.

Enjoy and explore on your daily lockdown exercise?

BARBICAN BY-WAYS

Peter Savage strolls the streets of EC2

One enjoyment of being a pedestrian in London is that a leisurely walk gives one time to look around.

I The Fortune Theatre

Wandering through Fortune Park on the way to Waitrose a slight deviation north into Fortune Street will reveal a plaque. This records the site of the Fortune Theatre built in 1597 by Edward Alleyn and his partner Philip Henshawe after The Admiral’s Men had faced competition at their theatre, The Rose, in Bankside from the newly constructed Globe.

Square-shaped it had three stories built of lath and plaster with wooden floors for the galleries. “Two- penny rooms” and gentlemen’s rooms were provided.

Needless to say, there were objections from local residents and city officials. These were overcome by charitable gifts to the parish and some backroom influence by a patron.

Once “the fairest playhouse in town” the Fortune’s reputation gradually declined, hastened perhaps by that “notorious roisterer” Mary Frith “singing and playing the lute”!

The Fortune burnt down in 1621 and its reputation did not improve after rebuilding. It was finally demolished in 1649.

The Fortune Theatre