Pumpkins grin evilly in the yard. Pint-size ghosts and covens of mini-witches cluster on the doorstep. Halloween’s running its chilly fingers down the nation’s spine again but, as we mortals shudder at the spookiness of it all, Robin Herford sits on the stage of the Fortune Theatre and merely… laughs.
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| The Woman in Black Tickets |
Next Available Dates
Performance Times
- Mon
- -8pm
- Tue
- 3pm8pm
- Wed
- -8pm
- Thu
- -8pm
- Fri
- -8pm
- Sat
- 4pm8pm
- Sun
- --
Booking Period
Show Opened
1st Jun 1989
Book from
23rd May 2013 - 14th Dec 2013
Running Time
2 hours
Age Restrictions
The Woman in Black is on the National Curriculum for English and Drama, so some performances (especially matinees and on weekdays) are likely to have school groups in attendance.
What's it all about?
Have you ever sat around the fireside telling ghost stories only to be stopped in your tracks when the room turned mysteriously cold or a muffled sound made you jump? That’s what watching The Woman in Black is like.
It's not that you actually see lots of gore or ghastly goings-on. There's just this growing sense of dread as the characters draw you into their world and you begin to unravel the mystery that’s been shredding the nerves of West End audiences for more than 20 years.
What's the story?
Any play that starts with a summons to a funeral is unlikely to end well, and your worst fears will be confirmed as you follow junior solicitor Arthur Kipps to the mysterious Eel Marsh House. There he sees a strange woman swathed in black. But no one will tell him who she is – or even admit she's there.
As Arthur proceeds to sort out the affairs of his recently deceased client, a series of unsettling incidents occur. You'll watch in dismay as candles gutter, a fog falls, doors squeal and floorboards creak – all conspiring to lead you towards a deliciously creepy conclusion.
Who's in it?
The Woman In Black may be in its third decade, but over the years the cast has been kept fresh with regular injections of new talent – including a young Joseph Fiennes. Currently, you'll find the animated Adam Best and seasoned National Theatre actor Ken Drury in the chilling two-hander.
But what of the woman in black? Who plays the haunting heroine? Perhaps after seeing it you'll simply claim, like the terrified inhabitants of Crythin Gifford: "I did not see a young woman."
Who is The Woman in Black suitable for?
You'll particularly love this show if you’re a fan of the slow ratcheting-up of tension you get in books like The Turn of the Screw. But from haunted houses to big-budget horror, everyone loves a good scare once in a while. And the reason this show is so good is that the frights are all in your mind.
Of course, in some ways that makes The Woman In Black all the more eerie. But it also means you can take the kids along without worrying they'll see something gruesome.
Please note: This play is not suitable for those with a nervous disposition, or those who feel uncomfortable with sudden shocks.
Why book with us?
TheatrePeople.com is your online box office for The Woman In Black tickets, and your one-stop theatre ticket shop for the best seats in the West End. Count on us to provide great service and great discount deals on theatre tickets for all of the plays, comedies and musicals on the London stage. We hope your trip to The Woman In Black at the Fortune Theatre is a memorable one, and we look forward to welcoming you to Theatreland.
Special Offers
Top Price TicketsValid Monday to Thursday until 14 December 2013 |
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Top Price TicketsValid Friday & Saturday until 14 December 2013 |
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Our close working relationship with West End producers means TheatrePeople.com can always offer you the best ticket deals in London on discounted and full-price seats for top shows.
The Woman in Black is just one of the many productions you can save £££s on with us. When we add 'special offer' status to our already great deals on theatre seats, you know it really will be special.
The Woman in Black is one of the West End’s most high-profile and longest-running productions. This thoroughly spine-chilling play has been in residence at the Fortune Theatre since August 1989.
The play was adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt from Susan Hill’s classic gothic horror novel. With director Robin Herford and producers PW Productions, Mallatratt created a nail-biting show that continues to give audiences at the Fortune Theatre the willies with its compelling storyline and nail-bitingly suspenseful atmosphere.
Now’s your chance to see what the fuss is about. Treat yourself to one of our special offers, and the best of Theatreland is just a click away. Book your seats for The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre today.
The Woman in Black reviews - 
staff
A jumpy play with unexpected scary moments - had me screaming out loud! Very well acted - it is all done with the power of words.
- Lianne
A decade after first seeing it, The Woman In Black remains my favourite London play. Not only is it extremely chilling but it’s a tour-de-force of creepy storytelling and first rate acting. I never believed two actors, some atmospheric lighting and spooky sound effects could scare the life out of me – but it really does become terrifying. It’s an unmissable experience that you can only get from live theatre – a true London landmark.
- Tim
The Woman in Black reviews - critics
"Don't go unless you like being scared out of your wits"
- Sunday Mirror
"A marvellous exercise in spine tingling tension, spun from perfectly paced storytelling and stagecraft......it's a cracker."
- The Independent
"A truly nerve-shredding experience"
- The Daily Mail
"The most brilliantly effective spine chiller you will ever encounter...If you haven't seen this show yet you are missing a treat"
- The Daily Telegraph
The Woman in Black reviews - most recent customers
The actors in this play were just amazing. The storyline itself was very accessible and unfolded at just the right place. It was, as all the reviews say, quite frightening, so much so I felt a little sick at one point. The [Fortune] Theatre is quite a small one and this made it seems very personal. I would absolutely recommend this play.
-Chloe
Amazing is an understatement. Woman in Black is a must see.
-Kirstan
First time I have ever been to the theater where there were only two actors on stage and I thoroughly enjoyed the show and so did my friends.
-Peter
Well, I am a regular theatregoer. Les Mis is the only show that I have ever seen more than once, a free ticket the second time. This is very relevant as I have seen W in B FOUR times now. There are reasons. I took my mother, who has been dead 20 years the first time. I have been taking groups of grandchildren [I have 7] since then. I was a bit disappointed this time, the last time 5/6 years ago. I remember a rocking horse surely and not a rocking chair going back. It was so much more spooky with a child's object. Also the main young man delivered his lines as if he was appearing in a very large theatre. Admittedly I was in the fourth row, but he was very loud. This is a review rather than an accolade but that is what you asked for.
-Jacqueline
Absolutely fantastic acting. Had been prepared for a more chilling experience that it didn't live up to. But the suspense was maintained from beginning to end.
-Melanie
Is anything more spine-tingling than hearing the audience murmur drop to a hush and seeing the house lights go down? Can anything beat the thrill of watching the actors emerge from the wings, ready to give the performance of a lifetime?
At TheatrePeople.com we love these moments more than anything, and we want you to enjoy your live theatre experience just as much.
To get you in the mood for your visit to The Woman in Black, we’ve prepared this gorgeous gallery of images from the show for your perusal and pleasure. It’s a pre-show peek at the West End cast and key elements of the production that’s sure to up your anticipation for the real thing.
These images are from the current production of The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre. It’s the story of Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor who travels to the small town of Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of a client who in life was an elderly widow who lived alone.
When Kipps encounters a mysterious woman dressed completely in black he is deeply unnerved. Nonetheless, he determines to get to the bottom of the dreaded secret that has been casting its deathly shadow over Crythin Gifford.
The Woman in Black was adapted for the stage from Susan Hill’s 1983 novel of the same name. It has been the subject of a number of other adaptations over the years, including a TV movie, two radio plays and a feature film.
The play has been staged successfully all over the world during its near-30 year history, with productions taking place in the US, South America and Japan among other places.
The play was adapted by Stephen Mallatratt and its director is Robin Herford. The Woman in Black originally premiered in Scarborough at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in 1987 before making its London debut in January 1989 at the Lyric Hammersmith.
Whether you’ve already booked your seats for The Woman in Black through us or you’re still making up your mind, we hope this gallery gives you a feeling for the essence of the show. We know where we’d like to be next time the curtain goes up at the Fortune Theatre. Perhaps we’ll see you there.
The Woman in Black videos
The smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd is what theatre’s all about. It may be a cliché but we bet it’s true for you too. There’s nothing like being there. That said, we know that a trip to the theatre can be a big commitment in terms of preparation and travel.
Check out our video sampler of The Woman in Black, currently playing at the Fortune Theatre in the West End. It can’t give you the in-the-moment, large-as-life buzz of the real deal. But it’s the best way to get a taste of The Woman in Black before you book your seat.
One of the longest running plays in West End history The Woman in Black is a spine-tingling thriller that’s drawn particular attention for being one of the best horror stories ever brought to the stage.
It’s tells of a young solicitor who goes to the small town of Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of a client, only to find that the town has some fearsome secrets of its own.
The small cast, simplistic set and intimate theatre all add to the chilling atmosphere of one of London’s most exhilarating theatre experiences.
Robin Herford is the director of The Woman in Black, which was adapted from Susan Hill’s 1983 novel of the same name by Stephen Mallatratt. The show originally premiered in London in 1989 at the Lyric Hammersmith.
We hope you enjoy this peek at the current London production of The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre. For further information and to book a seat, click on the relevant section above or at the sides of this page.
Did You Know?
You might think a popular play is ripe for a big screen adaptation, and you'd be right – a film starring Daniel Radcliffe was released in 2012. But oddly enough there’s already been one, back in 1989, and the actor Adrian Rawlins, who plays Harry Potter’s Dad in the films, starred in it. Spooky!
The Woman In Black is based on a Susan Hill novel. After she’d written it, she got a young student to type it up for her, but the girl refused to be left in the house on her own because she found the job too scary.
Stage adapter Stephen Mallatrat took a rather different approach, reading the book on a Greek beach, but he still found it a frightening experience. When Hill heard he was planning to adapt it, she told him he must be mad.
Important Information
This play is not suitable for those with a nervous disposition or who cannot handle sudden shocks. Please be advised that there is a large possibility of school groups being present at The Woman In Black, especially for Monday to Thursday performances.
Latest News
- Posted By
- TheatrePeople.com Staff
- On
- 31st Oct 2012
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