Simon Lipkin, Gina Beck, Julie Atherton & Samuel Holmes reunite for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Kirk Jameson's production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is returning to the Arts Theatre.

After playing the theatre's upstairs space last summer, the musical will be staged for two performances only in the main house on Monday 15th August 2016. 

Julie Atherton, Carley Stenson & Matt Cardle feature in Live At Zédel first season; Scott Alan named Artistic Director In Residence

Live At Zédel has confirmed first fetails for its Autumn season. 

As previously announced, as of September Crazy Coqs will be relaunched with all programming being taken over by United Agents. The new programme will kick off with an official partnership with The Philharmonia Orchestra and the appointment of U.S. composer Scott Alan as Artistic Director In Residence. 

Alan's varied programme includes intimate pre-show ‘coq-tails and Conversations’ from likes of Mark Shenton alongside nights from West End Stars Julie Atherton and Simon Lipkin as well as performances from performers including Carly Stenson, Oliver Tompsett and Lucie Jones.

Julie Atherton announces special guests for Crazy Coqs residency

West End leading lady and queen of new musical theatre writing Julie Atherton has announced special guests for her upcoming residency at Crazy Coqs between 16th and 20th February 2016.

Marking her Crazy Coqs debut, Atherton will perform songs from her albums and shows she has starred in alongside some new material. 

Guests will include 2015 Olivier winners Katie Brayben and George Maguire, Atherton's former Avenue Q co-star Paul Spicer as well as Laura Pitt-Pulford and Alex Gaumond. Check out the full schedule below.

Julie Atherton to star in Singular Sensations this Sunday

This Sunday (8th November), West End actress Julie Atherton will take to the stage at the Charing Cross Theatre to star in Singular Sensations.

Atherton will be interviewed by Edward Seckerson about her life and career. She will also perform a selection of songs live throughout the show which begins at 3pm. Click here for tickets and watch the trailer below.

Known as musical theatre's Queen of new writing, Atherton's most recent theatre credits include: Pure Imagination (St James), I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Above The Arts), Shock Treatment (King's Head) and Thérèse Raquin (Park/Finborough).

Review: Pure Imagination - The Songs of Leslie Bricusse at the St James Theatre

Pure Imagination: The Songs of Leslie Bricusse
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 28th September 2015
★★★

Hot on the heels of Bacharach Reimagined’s success, Pure Imagination celebrates the songs of Leslie Bricusse who is one of the most successful screen and stage composers of our time. 

Review: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Above the Arts

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change 
Above the Arts
Reviewed on Friday 3rd July 2015
★★★★★

Jimmy Roberts and Joe DiPietro's funny musical revue delves into love; what people want from it, how people deal with it and the extent some people will go to get it. Known as the second-longest running musical in off-Broadway history, this was my first time seeing the show which is remarkably well observed and joyously fun.

Images released for I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

First images have been released for the upcoming London revival of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change by Joe DiPietro. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge). The show runs for a limited season at Above The Arts between 1st and 18th July 2015. 

The cast includes Julie Atherton (Shock Treatment/Avenue Q), Simon Lipkin (Assassins/Rock Of Ages), Gina Beck (Far From the Madding Crowd/Wicked) and Samuel Holmes (Water Babies/Spamalot). Kirk Jameson directs.

Review: Shock Treatment at the King's Head Theatre

Shock Treatment
King's Head Theatr
Reviewed on Tuesday 21st April 2015
★★★

The Rocky Horror Show premiered off-West End in 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre. Forty-two years later its sequel Shock Treatment is receiving its stage premiere at the King's Head, an off-West End pub theatre in Angel.

Julie Atherton & Rosanna Hyland to star in Rocky Horror sequel Shock Treatment

WhatsOnStage have announced that Julie Atherton and Rosanna Hyland will star in Shock Treatment at the King's Head Theatre. The musical is a sequel to The Rocky Horror Show. 

The pair will play Janet and  Betty Hapschatt in the production which runs between 17th April and 9th May 2015. Marking its stage premiere, the show has music and lyrics by Richard Hartley and Richard O'Brien. Benji Sperring directs. It is based on the 1981 movie. 

Known as musical theatre's queen of new writing, Julie Atherton has played leading roles in Thérèse Raquin and LIFT, both by Craig Adams. She famously created the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut in the original West End production of Avenue Q (Noël Coward & Gielgud). Atherton made her West End debut as Sophie in Mamma Mia (Prince Edward) and went on to play Serena Katz in Fame (Aldwych & UK Tour). 

Album Review: Rush Of Life by Julie Atherton

Rush Of Life
Julie Atherton
Theatre Bench Records
★★★★

In the land of musical theatre West End star Julie Atherton is known as the Queen of new writing. As well as showcasing her remarkable vocals, Atherton's latest studio album Rush Of Life features material by some of the industry's most exciting new writing talents.

Review: Thérèse Raquin at the Park Theatre

Thérèse Raquin

Park Theatre (Park200)

Reviewed on Tuesday 5th August 2014

★★★★

Based on Émile Zola's novel set in 19th Century Paris, Thérèse Raquin is a dark new musical about a woman who has an affair with her husband's friend, leading to desperate actions and disastrous consequences.

Full casting announced for transfer of Thérèse Raquin

Full casting has been announced for Thérèse Raquin's run at the Park Theatre. 

Julie Atherton (pictured right) will reprise her performance in the title role alongside Tara Hugo (Madame Raquin), Jeremy Legat (Camille), Greg Barnett (Laurent), James Hume (Michaud), Matthew Harvey (Olivier), Lila Clements (Suzanne), Gary Tushaw (Grivet) and Iwan Lewis (Oarsman).

Claire Greenway, Ellie Kirk and Lucy O'Byrne complete the cast as the River Women.

Craig Adams and Nona Shepphard's musical transfers to the Park200 following its sell-out, world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in March. The production opens on Tuesday 5th August (previews from 30th July) and runs until Sunday 24th August 2014.

Alexia Khadime, Julie Atherton, Keith Jack & more to perform at next month's Giggin4Good; full line-up announced

Alexia Khadime (The Book of Mormon), Julie Atherton (Avenue Q), Keith Jack (Joseph, pictured right), Leanne Jones (Hairspray) and Caroline Keiff (Legally Blonde) will perform at Giggin4Good next month. 

The stars will "take the West End to Disneyland" to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Taking place at the Actors Church in Covent Garden on Sunday 18th May, the concert has been named When You Wish Upon A Star. Performers will take to the stage to perform Disney favourites.

Giggin4Good have raised thousands of pounds via a series of concerts supported by many West End stars for oncology, play therapy, respiratory care, neonatal and palliative care at Great Ormond Street Hospital. When You Wish Upon A Star will raise funds for slow release syringes which are used in palliative care wards to infuse morphine and other essential pain relief drugs.

Review: Thérèse Raquin at the Finborough Theatre

Thérèse Raquin
Finborough Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 29th March 2014

Based on Émile Zola's novel set in 19th Century Paris, Thérèse Raquin is a dark new musical about a woman who has an affair with her husband's friend, leading to desperate actions and disastrous consequences.

Big Interview: Craig Adams

Craig Adams’ new musical Thérèse Raquin, based on the classic French novel, opens tonight at the Finborough Theatre.

Craig (music) has adapted Émile Zola’s novel for the stage with Nona Shepphard (book and lyrics). The production features a stellar cast, including Julie Atherton (LIFT/Avenue Q) and Ben Lewis (Candide/Australian production of Love Never Dies).

Craig is a composer, lyricist, and arranger. He was the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer at the Finborough Theatre, facilitated by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network UK. 

His first musical LIFT, developed in association with Perfect Pitch, received its world premiere at Soho Theatre in February 2013 and received an Off Broadway run in November 2013. The show was ranked #2 in West End Frame’s top ten shows of 2013.

Craig’s other writing credits include: DEFECT (as part of Vibrant 2013 – A Festival of Finborough Playwrights at the Finborough Theatre), 101 Dalmatians (The Castle, Wellingborough), Ghosts Of The Past and The Watchers (YMT:UK), Ballet People (The Place), Battlement (Vanbrugh Theatre), Let Him Have Justice (Cochrane Theatre), Spell, The Frog Prince (Wimbledon Studio Theatre and Edinburgh Festival) and Alice in Wonderland (Edinburgh Festival and tour). 

He is currently working an adaptation of the Terry Pratchett novel Soul Music for YMT:UK, and a dance piece based on acclaimed children’s book Bob Robber and Dancing Jane entitled Shadowthief which will premiere in summer 2014. 

Recently I spoke to Craig about why he decided to write Thérèse Raquin, the overwhelming success of LIFT and the state of new writing… 

How have you felt over the past few weeks with the build up to the opening of Thérèse Raquin?

Very nervous… [laughs] really nervous! It’s a really hard show; the subject matter is hard anyway because the book is very naturalistic. It doesn’t centre itself on emotion; it’s about how people deal with the story. When writing the music it was hard to not wallow in the emotion, it has to be more of a commentary. The score is really, really tricky – the cast have done a phenomenal job. It’s been hard but rewarding work!

Meet The Cast of Thérèse Raquin at the Finborough Theatre

This morning we revealed that full casting has been announced for the world premiere of a new musical adaptation of the classic French novel Thérèse Raquin. Based on Émile Zola's 1868 novel, Thérèse Raquin tells the story of a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage to her cousin Camille, who enters into a passionate affair with his friend Laurent.

The production, which opens at the Finborough Theatre on Thursday 27th March 2014 (previews from 25th March) and runs until Saturday 19th April 2014, has music by Craig Adams and book and lyrics by Nona Shepphard who is also directing the production.

Once again the Finborough has gathered an incredible cast of West End regulars. Meet the cast below:

Full casting announced for new musical Thérèse Raquin at the Finborough Theatre

Ben Lewis & Julie Atherton

Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of a new musical adaptation of the classic French novel  Thérèse Raquin. The production opens next month at the Finborough as part of the theatre's Celebrating British Music Theatre series.

Thérèse Raquin opens on Thursday 27th March 2014 (previews from 25th March) and runs until Saturday 19th April starring Julie Atherton, Ben Lewis and Olivier Award nominee Tara Hugo.

The full cast includes: Julie Atherton (Thérèse Raquin), Lila Clements (Suzanne), Claire Greenway (River Woman), Tara Hugo (Madame), Ellie Kirk (River Woman), Jeremy Legat (Camille), Ben Lewis (Laurent), Gary Tushaw (Grivet), Verity Quade (River Woman) and Matt Wilman (Oarsman). Click here to meet the cast.

Thérèse Raquin has music by Craig Adams and book and lyrics by Nona Shepphard who is also directing the production.

19th Century Paris. Behind the counter of a small dusty haberdasher’s shop near the Seine in the dank, narrow Passage du Pont Neuf, sit Madame Raquin and her beautiful niece Thérèse whom she has married off to her sickly son Camille in a loveless match. While he is out working, Thérèse serves in the shop and the monotony is only broken on Thursday nights, when Madame plays dominoes with a strange assortment of old friends.

Julie Atherton, Joanna Riding, Hannah Waddingham & Michael Xavier for charity concert at the Queens Theatre

Stars of the stage and screen will come together for a special one-night-only concert You’ll Never Walk Alone at the Queen’s Theatre (current home to Les Mis) on Sunday 2nd March 2014 at 7.30pm in aid of the Philippines Typhoon Appeal. Tickets are now on sale with all proceeds going directly to the Disasters Emergency Committee.

On 7th November 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most intense tropical storms ever to make landfall anywhere in the world, struck the Philippines. Millions were affected by torrential rain, winds of over 140mph and flooding of up to 15 feet, devastating coastal areas. Over 14 million people have had their lives torn apart, with approximately 590,000 homes completely destroyed and well over 4 million people forcibly displaced due to the destruction.

Eden Espinosa, Lucy May Barker, Julie Atherton & Scott Garnham for Christmas In New York

Christmas In New York, a seasonal theatrical concert, is returning this Christmas for one night only at the Palace Theatre in London on Monday 9th December. The show will also play its first ever regional date at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on Saturday 7th December.

Broadway leading lady Eden Espinosa (pictured above) will headline both shows alongside an accomplished cast of West End stars featuring Tori Allen-Martin (Rent, Hair), Lucy May Barker (Spring Awakening, Sweeney Todd), Andy Coxon (Les Miserables, Rocky Horror Show), Scott Garnham (Les Miserables, I Can't Sing!), Luke Kempner (Avenue Q, South Pacific) and Zoe Rainey (Wicked, Hairspray).

Big Interview: Julie Atherton

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!