Aimie Atkinson Explained

Birth Name:Aimie Allen-Atkinson
Birth Date:1987 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Stevenage, England
Years Active:2006–present

Aimie Allen-Atkinson (born 5 June 1987)[1] is an English stage actress and singer.[2] 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

Atkinson 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. Whilst studying at Collenswood School in Stevenage, Atkinson was part of the Fusion Performing Arts group and took part in many of their productions.[3] Having studied to GCSE level, and then worked as an admin assistant in a music publishing company.[4] She also ran a franchise for the Stagecraft school in Stevenage.[5]

Career

After 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, 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.[6]

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,[3] 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.[5] 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.[8]

On 13 February 2020, Atkinson began playing the role of Vivian Ward in the West End production of alongside Danny Mac at the Piccadilly Theatre.[9] The show later officially opened on 2 March 2020,[10] but closed only two weeks later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] Atkinson returned to the show for its reopening at the Savoy Theatre on 8 July 2021.[12] The show closed in June 2023 and announced a UK and Ireland tour.[13]

In May 2023 it was announced that will have its English premiere at the London Palladium[14] 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.[15] The show is due to transfer to the Lyric Theatre in September 2023 for six additional performances[16] with Georgie Maguire, Jessica Lee and Carl Man taking on the roles of Ryuk, Misa and alternate L respectively.[17]

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".[18] [19]

Recording and music

Atkinson 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:

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.[20] [21] In 2022, the group released a number of singles such as "Woman"[22] and "Free"

On 18 June 2021, Atkinson released the single "Pretty Woman", a contemporary reimagining of Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman.[23]

Personal life

Atkinson has dated both women and men.[24] [25]

Her charity work includes a 24 Hour Musical Marathon live stream for Save the Children.[26]

Discography

YearSongAlbumArtistNotes
2016Step Inside LoveAimie AtkinsonWith additional features
2018"I Feel the Love"GoldstoneEntry for Eurovision: You Decide 2018
Six: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)SiX (Studio Cast)With additional features
2021"Pretty Woman"Aimie AtkinsonCover of Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman
"QUEEN"SVNCover of Jessie J
"Stars"StarsSVN
2022"Woman"WomanSVN
"I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You"Loving YouJosh Piterman featuring Aimie Atkinson
"FREE"FREESVN
"BOSS"BOSSSVN
"At Christmas"At ChristmasSVNChristmas Special
2024"A Dare For Love"Aimie AtkinsonEntry for Una Voce per San Marino 2024

Concert performances

Filmography

Audio

!Year!Project!Episode!Role!Streaming App!Ref.
2018The Sheep Chronicles III: The Jack and the Beans TalkChilli BeanSpotify
2021The Painkiller Podcast
  1. 17 Fib by Annie Williams
JamieSpotify

Awards and nominations

!Year!Work!Award!Category!Result
2006BBC Radio 2Voice of Musical Theatre Award
2019SixOlivier AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aimie Atkinson West End Performers London Theatre Direct . 2022-09-19 . www.londontheatredirect.com.
  2. Web site: Actor Profile. 25 November 2018. mandy.com.
  3. Web site: Q&A: The BBC Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre, Aimie Atkinson. Hertfordshire Life Magazine. 15 February 2010. 3 March 2020.
  4. Web site: Alumni Theatre School London Susi Earnshaw School . 2023-09-26 . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Want My Job? Aimie Atkinson, West End actor. Ashlee Brown. Voice magazine. 28 January 2017. 3 March 2020.
  6. Web site: New Talent Success Stories: Aimie Atkinson.. 19 September 2006. BBC New Talents.
  7. Web site: Interview with Aimie Atkinson. Emily Healey-Lynham. The Bespoke Black Book. January 2019. 3 March 2020.
  8. Web site: Six the Musical. www.sixthemusical.com. en-GB. 14 March 2019.
  9. Web site: Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac Will Head Cast of London's Pretty Woman: The Musical. Playbill. Andrew. Gans. 11 December 2019. 15 December 2019.
  10. Web site: Pretty Woman with Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac in the West End: opening night photos. WhatsOnStage.com. Daniel. Perks. 3 March 2020. 4 March 2020.
  11. Web site: Ambassador Theatre Group Suspends London Performances Through May 31 Due to COVID-19 . Sullivan . Lindsay . 3 April 2020 . Broadway.com . 11 July 2021.
  12. Web site: Pretty Woman: The Musical Sets July Return to the West End . Gans . Andrew . 23 March 2021 . . 11 July 2021.
  13. Web site: 2023-03-08 . Pretty Woman sets West End closing date and announces new lead casting . 2023-07-02 . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2023-05-24 . Exclusive: Death Note: The Musical to play two concerts at The London Palladium . 2023-08-26 . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2023-07-24 . Death Note The Musical – final casting revealed . 2023-08-26 . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2023-07-28 . Death Note The Musical in Concert confirms new West End performances . 2023-08-26 . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2023-08-21 . Death Note musical announces full casting for Lyric Theatre run . 2023-08-26 . en-US.
  18. Web site: 19 February 2024 . San Marino 2024: 'Una Voce Per San Marino' names released . 19 February 2024 . Eurovision.tv . EBU.
  19. C3iqPrIIXh- . aimieatkinson . Atkinson . Aimie . 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! . 2024-02-19 . 2024-02-20.
  20. Web site: Meet brand-new girl group SVN . .
  21. Web site: SVN. 2021-05-16. SVN. en-US.
  22. News: After the musical Six comes SVN – meet the group redefining girl power in 2022 . The Big Issue . 28 April 2022 . 16 April 2023.
  23. Web site: West End star Aimie Atkinson partners with Absolute for debut solo single and EP . 2022-09-19 . The Independent Music Insider.
  24. Web site: INTEVRIEW: Aimie Atkinson, currently in the cast of SIX at the Arts Theatre. 6 June 2019. 29 September 2019. Pocket Size Theatre.
  25. Aimie Atkinson interview: 'Our Pretty Woman is about someone not willing to settle for less than she's worth'. Evening Standard. Joe. Paskett. 26 February 2020. 2 April 2023.
  26. Web site: Aimie Atkinson to perform 24-hour musical marathon on Insta-live for Save the Children. London Theatre Direct. Daniels. Nicholas Ephram Ryan. 28 May 2020. 3 June 2020.