James Atherton

James Atherton

Composer, Musical Director

For the New Vic: The Snow Queen (Winner of UK Theatre Awards for Best show for Children and Young People); Around the World in 80 Days  (2017 co-production with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Simon Friend and Royal Exchange Theatre); Peter Pan in Scarlet, Kiss Me Quickstep, Robin Hood & Marian, the Hoard Festival, The Borrowers, Around The World In Eighty Days (2014 co-production with Royal Exchange Theatre; 2013); The Hundred and One Dalmatians, Stones in His Pockets, A Christmas Carol, Phoenix From the Flames (Olympic torch relay); Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Garden and Don’t Turn My Life Into a Musical – the Musical.

Theatre as composer/musical director includes: The Giant Jam Sandwich, The Tigers Bones (New Perspectives); Fight Like A Girl (Youth Music Theatre UK); The Tiger’s Bones (New Perspectives – National Tour); The Tragical Tale of Romeus and Juliet (Oldham Coliseum); Bedtime Stories (Upswing at Stratford Circus); Eyam (Eyam Church and Oldham Coliseum); The Little Mermaid (Oldham Coliseum); Miss Interpreted (Square Chapel, Halifax); Stanley’s Stick (Manchester Literature Festival); According To Brian Haw (Riverside Studios).

Television as composer includes: Tales From the National Parks, The Lives of Gandhi, Around the World in 80 Faiths, Olaudah Equiano, Greater Love Hath No Man and Brick Lane (BBC); Survivors,Tonight With Trevor McDonald and Kenny Everett: Licence to Laugh (ITV1); The Unseen Eric Morecambe (Channel 4); Roger to the Rescue (Cosgrove Hall); Colleen’s Secrets (Channel 5); All in the Game, starring Ray Winstone (Film4).

James is currently writing the score to A Tiger’s Tale for M6 Theatre Company written by Mike Kenny.

James is also the artistic director of the renowned Oldham Theatre Workshop.