Aimie Atkinson | |
|---|---|
 Atkinson performing at Hampton Court Palace in 2022 | |
| Born | Aimie Allen-Atkinson 5 June 1987 Stevenage, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Website | www |
Aimie Allen-Atkinson (born 5 June 1987)[2] is an English stage actress and singer.[3] She is known for portraying the role of Katherine Howard in British comedy musical Six on the original UK tour and in the West End production at the Arts Theatre, Lyric Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre, portraying Vivian Ward in the West End production of Pretty Woman, as well as forming part of pop girl group SVN.
Early life
editAtkinson was born to parents Faith Allen and Tom Atkinson in Stevenage, England. Her father played part-time in a rock band, which encouraged her to begin singing from a young age.[4] Whilst studying at Collenswood School in Stevenage, Atkinson was part of the Fusion Performing Arts group and took part in many of their productions.[4] Having studied to GCSE level, and then worked as an admin assistant in a music publishing company.[5] She also ran a franchise for the Stagecraft school in Stevenage.[6]
Career
editAfter agreeing with a friend whilst studying at the Arts Educational School that both should apply to the BBC Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre competition,[7] Atkinson was told that she could only apply for the amateur competition. After winning that, she joined a final competition against the final professional contestants – those with at least five years of stage experience – and also won that.[8]
Aged 19, Atkinson left Arts Educational and became a full-time stage actress, taking her first professional job in Howard Goodall's Days of Hope at the King's Head Theatre.[7] She then took on various parts, before starting an intensive course in musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music. After completing two months in RAM and one month in Arts Educational Schools, she left after two months to join the UK touring production of Zorro, playing the part of Luisa.[7] Subsequently, landing a part in a musical as a sassy 40-year-old singer,[4] the producer of the show then asked Atkinson to audition for the role of Daniela in the musical In The Heights, which she subsequently played at the King's Cross Theatre.[6] She has since played Princess Jasmine in Aladdin alongside Priscilla Presley, Serena in Legally Blonde at Kilworth House, and Snow White opposite Jerry Hall at Richmond Theatre. She has also originated the role of Katherine Howard in the West End production of Six.[9]
On 13 February 2020, Atkinson began playing the role of Vivian Ward in the West End production of Pretty Woman: The Musical alongside Danny Mac at the Piccadilly Theatre.[10] The show later officially opened on 2 March 2020,[11] but closed only two weeks later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Atkinson returned to the show for its reopening at the Savoy Theatre on 8 July 2021.[13] The show closed in June 2023 and announced a UK and Ireland tour.[14]
In May 2023 it was announced that Death Note: The Musical will have its English premiere at the London Palladium[15] in August. Cast included Atkinson as Rem, Adam Pascal as Ryuk, Frances Mayli McCann as Misa, Dean John-Wilson as L and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Light.[16] The show is due to transfer to the Lyric Theatre in September 2023 for six additional performances[17] with Georgie Maguire, Jessica Lee and Carl Man taking on the roles of Ryuk, Misa and alternate L respectively.[18]
In February 2024, she was selected to compete in the final of Una voce per San Marino 2024, the Sammarinese national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "A Dare for Love".[19][20]
In September 2024, Playbill announced that Figaro: An Original Musical will have its West End Concert premiere at the London Palladium. Cast included Atkinson as Lucia, Cayleigh Capaldi as Sienna, and Jon Robyns as Figaro.
Recording and music
editAtkinson released her debut studio album Step Inside of Love with Jay Records in 2017. As a member of the girl group Goldstone, she competed in Eurovision: You Decide 2018 with the song "I Feel The Love". Atkinson's recordings include:
- Step Inside Love – debut solo album
- I Feel The Love – BBC
- 100 Greatest Musicals – recorded at Abbey Road Studios
- Postman and The Poet
- Kurt Weill's One Touch of Venus
- ‘Six The Musical’ Studio Cast recording
In 2021, Atkinson formed a seven piece girl group called SVN with six other members of the original West End cast of Six, Millie O'Connell, Natalie Paris, Alexia McIntosh, Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Maiya Quansah-Breed, and Grace Mouat.[21][22] In 2022, the group released a number of singles such as "Woman"[23] and "Free"[21]
On 18 June 2021, Atkinson released the single "Pretty Woman", a contemporary reimagining of Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman.[24]
Personal life
editAtkinson has dated both women and men.[25][26]
Her charity work includes a 24 Hour Musical Marathon live stream for Save the Children.[27]
Discography
edit| Year | Song | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | – | Step Inside Love | Aimie Atkinson | With additional features |
| 2018 | "I Feel the Love" | – | Goldstone | Entry for Eurovision: You Decide 2018 |
| – | Six: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording) | SiX (Studio Cast) | With additional features | |
| 2021 | "Pretty Woman" | – | Aimie Atkinson | Cover of Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman |
| "QUEEN" | – | SVN | Cover of Jessie J | |
| "Stars" | Stars | SVN | – | |
| 2022 | "Woman" | Woman | SVN | – |
| "I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You" | Loving You | Josh Piterman featuring Aimie Atkinson | – | |
| "FREE" | FREE | SVN | – | |
| "BOSS" | BOSS | SVN | – | |
| "At Christmas" | At Christmas | SVN | Christmas Special | |
| 2024 | "A Dare For Love" | Aimie Atkinson | Entry for Una Voce per San Marino 2024 |
Concert performances
edit- ‘'Fridays Night is Music Night’' on many occasions.
- Barbara Windsor's 70th Birthday BBC Radio 2 live from Hackney Empire.
- Great British Musical (Perfect Pitch) – What's On Stage Awards.
- Stephen Sondheim's 70th Birthday Concert.
Filmography
edit- Nikki Martin – Doctors, BBC.
- Anna Karenina – American Express Commercial.
- Voice over for Thompson Holidays.
- Snow White I-dents – Christmas Special, GMTV.
- Snow White Documentary 'Seven Dwarfs', Channel 4,
- Backing vocalists for 'The Michael Ball Show' and 'Britain's Got Talent', ITV.
- BBC Wales ‘Search for a Musical Theatre Star’ and subsequently ‘A Musical Star is Born’.
Audio
edit| Year | Project | Episode | Role | Streaming App | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Sheep Chronicles III: The Jack and the Beans Talk | – | Chilli Bean | Spotify | [28] |
| 2021 | The Painkiller Podcast | #17 Fib by Annie Williams | Jamie | Spotify | [29] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | BBC Radio 2 | Voice of Musical Theatre Award | Won | |
| 2019 | Six | Olivier Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "See Who's Starring in London Concert World Premiere: Figaro: An Original Musical". Playbill.
- ^ "Aimie Atkinson | West End Performers | London Theatre Direct". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ "Actor Profile". mandy.com. 25 November 2018.
- ^ a b c "Q&A: The BBC Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre, Aimie Atkinson". Hertfordshire Life Magazine. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Alumni | Theatre School London | Susi Earnshaw School". Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ a b Ashlee Brown (28 January 2017). "Want My Job? Aimie Atkinson, West End actor". Voice magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ a b c Emily Healey-Lynham (January 2019). "Interview with Aimie Atkinson". The Bespoke Black Book. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "New Talent Success Stories: Aimie Atkinson". BBC New Talents. 19 September 2006.
- ^ "Six the Musical". www.sixthemusical.com. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (11 December 2019). "Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac Will Head Cast of London's Pretty Woman: The Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ Perks, Daniel (3 March 2020). "Pretty Woman with Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac in the West End: opening night photos". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ Sullivan, Lindsay (3 April 2020). "Ambassador Theatre Group Suspends London Performances Through May 31 Due to COVID-19". Broadway.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (23 March 2021). "Pretty Woman: The Musical Sets July Return to the West End". Playbill. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "Pretty Woman sets West End closing date and announces new lead casting". 8 March 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "Exclusive: Death Note: The Musical to play two concerts at The London Palladium". 24 May 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Death Note The Musical – final casting revealed". 24 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Death Note The Musical in Concert confirms new West End performances". 28 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Death Note musical announces full casting for Lyric Theatre run". 21 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "San Marino 2024: 'Una Voce Per San Marino' names released". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Atkinson, Aimie [@aimieatkinson] (19 February 2024). "Well I can't believe I'm writing this but a song @mrsteveanderson @terryronald and myself have put together is going through to the final of @unavocepersanmarino and I'll be performing it on @sanmarinortv this Saturday 24th!". Retrieved 20 February 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ a b "Meet brand-new girl group SVN". Official Charts.
- ^ "SVN". SVN. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "After the musical Six comes SVN – meet the group redefining girl power in 2022". The Big Issue. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "West End star Aimie Atkinson partners with Absolute for debut solo single and EP". The Independent Music Insider. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ "INTEVRIEW: Aimie Atkinson, currently in the cast of SIX at the Arts Theatre". Pocket Size Theatre. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Paskett, Joe (26 February 2020). "Aimie Atkinson interview: 'Our Pretty Woman is about someone not willing to settle for less than she's worth'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Daniels, Nicholas Ephram Ryan (28 May 2020). "Aimie Atkinson to perform 24-hour musical marathon on Insta-live for Save the Children". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ The Sheep Chronicles III: Jack & the Beans Talk, 18 October 2018, retrieved 23 December 2022
- ^ #17 Fib by Annie Williams – performed by Aimie Atkinson, 10 March 2021, retrieved 23 December 2022