Julie Atherton is currently starring in the world premiere of Another Way at the Cockpit Theatre. The new musical features a book by Sarah Henley and Tori Allen-Martin and music by Benedict.
Another Way is three short stories about three London-based couples - friends, family and lovers - over the course of three months. It’s about luck in its different forms, from feeling lucky to being struck by luck, by a chance meeting. It’s about hope, it’s about getting stronger, and staying up later, for the 'dawn of our glory days'.
Julie Atherton famously created the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut in the original West End production of Avenue Q (Noël Coward & Gielgud). She made her West End debut as Sophie in Mamma Mia (Prince Edward) and went on to play Serena Katz in Fame (Aldwych & UK Tour).
Her other theatre credits include: Emily in The Hired Man (Mercury Colcester & Curve Leicester), French Teacher in Lift (Soho Theatre), Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act (UK Tour), Deb in Ordinary Days (Trafalgar Studios & Finborough), Cathy in The Last 5 Years (Theatre Royal Haymarket) and Kolokolo Bird in Just So (Chicester Festival).
Julie has also released two studio albums, 'A Girl of Few Words' and 'No Space for Air' and continues to support new writing. Later this year she will star alongside Daniel Boys in The Opinion Makers which will run in Derby and Colchester. Yesterday I chatted to Julie about what attracted her to starring in Another Way, why she feels so strongly about supporting new writing and what it was like to perform in Scott Alan’s recent concert at the IndigO2...
How are rehearsals for Another Way going so far?
Really well, we’ve got a lot to cram in! I’m trying to learn my lines at the moment so we’re at that stressful stage but I’m really enjoying it, the music is incredible!
What’s the music like, what can people expect from it?
It’s very ‘now’. It’s very pop. Benedict’s written the music and he’s just so truthful and soulful, I can’t even describe it – but I love it!
Is that what attracted you to the show?
Yes, plus the fact that it’s a new show. Tori (Allen-Martin) explained everything to me and straight away I thought it sounded beautiful, it’s an honest piece of theatre which I really wanted to be involved in. It’s also quite therapeutic for me because my character is going through exactly what I’ve just been through. The music is very haunting and as soon as I heard it I was like “I need to be apart of this”.
The show follows three London-based couples and is about luck in its different forms, from feeling lucky to being struck by luck, by a chance meeting. It sounds like something people will be able to relate to?
Yes, definitely. It’s about hope and putting your face into something which isn’t necessarily guaranteed to turn out alright, but we do it anyway because that’s what keeps us going. Everybody goes through something massive in the show and towards the end it’s that moment when you’re like “ahh, I think everything’s going to be ok”. If people are going through something bad, they will watch the show and leave feeling like everything’s going to be alright. It’s really sweet the way in which the stories intertwine as well.
What are the cast like to work with?
Amazing! A little bit too amazing, we’re having such a laugh and I’m having such a good time working on the show so far. There’s not one bad egg in that room!
Julie with her 'Another Way' co-stars
You’ve always been a massive supporter of new writing. Why is it something you feel so strongly about?
Because it’s so important that we keep moving forward. I feel that in musical theatre we get a little bit stuck, and it’s the only genre which does. With art we’re constantly innovating and creating new ways of working. Same with music which is constantly moving forward, as well as big blockbuster films which continue to get bigger and better. I understand that with theatre it has a lot to do with ticket prices – but tickets aren’t very much for Another Way [laughs]!! New writing is often showcased in smaller theatres to make it more affordable for everybody involved and it’s just all about giving shows a chance! There are all these big, well oiled machines of musicals which are running and are there when you want them, but it’s important that shows don’t get too tired, just because you get a new cast it doesn't necessarily make it fresh. Sometimes a new cast will bring a new lease of life but it’s still the same show and people become carbon copies after a while and, without evening meaning to, they lose sight of what it was at the beginning, because the creative team go off and do other things. I think it’s nice to keep rebooting and reviving musical theatre – bringing stuff back is great as well!
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| Julie in Lift |
Earlier this year you starred in another new musical, Lift at the Soho Theatre. You had been involved with the show for years so what was the whole experience like?
It was amazing! I remember when Craig (Adams) first wrote it at Mountview! Although it was very different, so to hear the full version which we did was incredible! It was amazing to go on that journey and to see it develop. Obviously I didn’t have anything to do with the book writing process. I hadn’t seen Craig for a long time before he presented the book to me which Ian (Watson) had written. It was great because every night I discovered a new thing which was very clever. It’s one of those shows that you can go back and see again. I recently saw one of the secret shows at the Lyric Hammersmith and afterwards thought “I need to see that again because I didn’t quite understand all of it”. I think Lift was the same story.
That’s exactly why I went back to see Lift again and again, certain things kept on clicking...
Exactly - it makes a nice change from a linear story because it’s lovely to watch something from beginning to end but once you’ve seen it – you’ve seen it. We had lots of those moments where something would click and I’d go up to Craig and be like “Oh my god I didn’t realise that...” and he’d just be like “yeah”, he’s very clever!
One of most high profile shows you’ve been in is the original West End production of Avenue Q. The show took the West End by storm but did you always know that it would be such a huge hit?
I didn’t really think about that – I was just happy that I got the job! I loved it! The team were brilliant and I miss the puppets... but not the pain [laughs]! It was a very painful show to be in although it was such a fun show to do and the achievement of learning to puppeteer in those five weeks was amazing. I think I just cried after the first show because I didn’t know how it had gone – usually I can tell, but when you’re holding a puppet you can’t. I had to wait for somebody to tell me whether the puppeteering was ok.
Recently you performed in Scott Alan’s concert at the IndigO2. What was it like to be part of that incredible line-up?
Brilliant!! It was such a laugh!
Julie performing at Scott Alan’s concert at the IndigO2
Was it super stagey?
It kind of was actually, there were a couple of us who weren’t stagey and sat together and were like “this is weird”, but I had the best night. It was just such a good feeling to stand on that stage and there were so many people! The band was amazing and it was such an incredible night, I was honoured to be a part of it.
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| Julie in Avenue Q |
What are some of your favourite shows in London at the moment?
Ooo, that’s hard to say because there is so much I haven’t seen!
Well what’s top of your list of shows to see?
I’m trying my best to see The Color Purple this week because it’s the only time I’ve got but I don’t think I’m going to get in... I’m on a waiting list. I want to see my friends in Once and I want to see The Book of Mormon!
Over the years you’ve built up a very loyal fan base of people who closely follow your career. What’s it like to have so much support behind you?
It’s really sweet, they’re all so lovely! I have some very, very loyal supporters and without them I wouldn't be able to put on my little concerts here and there! It’s lovely, really nice and very flattering!
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Another Way opens at The Cockpit Theatre on Friday 13th September (previews from 11th September) and runs until Saturday 5th October.
Please visit www.thecockpit.org.uk for further information and tickets.
Visit Julie's Website: www.julieatherton.com
Follow Julie on Twitter: @Julie_Atherton
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