Julie Atherton

In 2019, Atherton directed Club Mex at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester.

In November 2014, Atherton released her most personal studio album to date, Rush of Life, featuring songs written for her by Dougal Irvine, Craig Adams, Lance Horne, George Maguire and Benedict.

During the months of February and March 2011, Atherton starred alongside her Avenue Q castmate, Daniel Boys, in Ordinary Days at the Trafalgar Studios. The show was followed by Atherton putting on an intimate sessions concert, joined by various guest singers.

From 29 September 2011, Atherton played the role of Sister Mary Robert in the first UK tour of Sister Act the Musical. Sister Act toured throughout the UK and Ireland.

In June 2010, Atherton released her second studio album, No Space for Air. Described as a unique and groundbreaking album for the Spring Awakening and Lady Gaga generation, No Space for Air features material from Alanis Morissette, Skunk Anansie and Stephen Sondheim.

In June 2010, Atherton released the song "There's a Fine, Fine Line" from Avenue Q as a single. The single was a thank-you to her fans from that show.

Julie Atherton is a British actress, who is best known for her work on stage. On 3 October 2009 she finished playing the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in the West End production of Avenue Q.She released her debut album, A Girl of Few Words, on 2 October 2006.After signing with the Speckulation record label, she released her second album titled No Space for Air in the Summer of 2010.She starred as Sister Mary Robert in the first UK tour of Sister Act: The Musical in 2011. In 2013 she was featured as 'French Teacher' in the world premiere of the musical 'LIFT' by Craig Adams and Ian Watson, at the Soho Theatre. This was followed in 2014 by the title role in 'Thérèse Raquin', again by Craig Adams with Book and Lyrics by Nona Shepphard. After a sold out run at The Finborough Theatre the production transferred to Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. Julie wrapped up a stellar year in 2014 with the release of her third album titled 'Rush of Life', with songs written for her by Craig Adams, Dougal Irvine, Lance Horne, George Maguire and Benedict.

After her training, she played Iris Bentley in Let Him Have Justice, which she co-wrote. She was later cast in the lead role of Sophie in the West End production of Mamma Mia! (2000), and then as Serena Katz in the national tour of Fame. A season was then spent appearing in Out of This World at the Chichester Festival Theatre and as the Kolokolo Bird in the Stiles and Drewe musical Just So (2004). She was part of the premier of a new musical Ordinary Days at the Finborough Theatre, and Once Upon A Time At The Adelphi at the Liverpool Playhouse from 28 June 2008 to 2 August 2008.

In June 2006, Atherton became part of the original London cast of Avenue Q when the show transferred from Broadway to the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End. She played Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut, and continued playing the role until 1 December 2007. She returned to the production, which had then moved to the Gielgud Theatre, in December 2008 and continued playing her roles until 3 October 2009. Subsequently in 2009, she created the role of Charlotte in the new musical Through the Door by British composer/lyricist Laurence Mark Wythe and American bookwriter Judy Freed, at the Trafalgar Studios in a West End production. In 2010 she appeared in the musical Tomorrow Morning at the Landor Theatre in South London, the award winning musical by Laurence Mark Wythe.

Atherton is a founding member of the company of Notes From New York, which is a series of shows bringing the works of US composers to the West End stage. She has performed in five of the six Notes From New York shows to date. She appeared in the one off special Christmas in New York, part of the Notes From New York series, which was held at the Lyric Theatre on 9 December 2007. As part of Notes From New York, a production of The Last Five Years was held on three consecutive Sundays from 12 October 2008 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. It returned again in May 2009 at the Duchess Theatre where it played for one week. She also appeared in Jonathan Larson's tick, tick... BOOM! which played at the Duchess Theatre in 2009, having its West End premiere.

Atherton released her first solo album on 3 October 2006. The music was composed by Charles Miller with lyrics by Kevin Hammonds and Adam Bard.

Atherton grew up in Preston, England and started her training at Cardinal Newman College before moving to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She graduated in 1999. Whilst training at Mountview, she played Fern in Charlotte's Web at the Polka Children's Theatre in Wimbledon, London.