Steven Atkinson
Steven Atkinson | |
|---|---|
 Steven Atkinson | |
| Born | Steven Atkinson 4 May 1984 Liverpool, Merseyside, England |
| Alma mater | University of Reading |
| Occupations | Theatre producer, film producer |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Steven Atkinson (born 4 May 1984)[1] is a British producer working in theatre and film.
He co-founded and led HighTide, one of the UK's theatre companies, as well as the National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England. Atkinson has commissioned and produced more than 80 new plays in theatres, including the National Theatre, The Old Vic, Royal Court Theatre, Young Vic, and Off-Broadway. In addition, he has produced at least 14 HighTide festivals in Suffolk and London.[2]
Education
[edit | edit source]Atkinson graduated from the University of Reading in 2005 with a B.A. in Film & Theatre.
Career
[edit | edit source]Early career
[edit | edit source]Atkinson's career first started in script development working at the Donmar Warehouse under Michael Grandage. He worked in the Royal Court under Ian Rickson and Hull Truck Theatre under John Godber.[3] Atkinson produced Hull Truck's first new writing festival in 2007.[4]
HighTide
[edit | edit source]In 2007, Atkinson co-founded and became artistic director of HighTide,[5] quickly establishing the theatre company as one of the leading production firms in the UK.
“Under artistic director Steven Atkinson, the festival – a tempting mixture of new productions, readings and discussions - has grown to become one of the little gems of the artistic calendar in Britain. And, with alumni such as Ella Hickson and Nick Payne poached in the past for shows at the National Theatre in London and the Public Theatre in New York, it has become a real hunting-ground for new talent.”[6]
In Atkinson's opening season at HighTide, he produced Adam Brace's Stovepipe. The production was then transferred from the HighTide Festival to London through the National Theatre and Bush Theatre, where it was critically acclaimed. The Sunday Times praised Atkinson's Stovepipe as "a five-star production in its power and ambition"[citation needed], while The Independent called it "exhilaratingly convincing."[7] The production was ranked in The Sunday Times Best Theatre Productions of the Decade[8] as well as nominated for Best Off-West End Production in the Whatsonstage awards. In the same season, Atkinson also produced Joel Horwood's I Caught Crabs In Walberswick, which transferred to the Bush Theatre.[9] He also produced Switzerland, the first play by Nick Payne who then went on to win the George Devine Award.
At HighTide, Atkinson produced and championed many of the leading new writers of the last decade, including Anders Lustgarten,[10] Luke Barnes,[11] Tallulah Brown,[12] E V Crowe,[13] Elinor Cook,[14] Rob Drummond,[15] Kenny Emson,[16] Kieran Hurley,[17] Theresa Ikoko,[18] Branden Jacobs-Jenkins,[19] Ella Hickson,[20] Eve Leigh,[21] Vinay Patel,[22] Nick Payne,[23] Beth Steel,[24] Al Smith,[25] Sam Steiner,[26] and Jack Thorne.[27]
In 2016, Atkinson gave an interview to The Stage where he spoke of his ambitions for HighTide Festival: ‘We want to be theatre’s Sundance.’[28]
Atkinson has been awarded twice for the Emerging Producers Bursary by the Society of London Theatre for his work on Stovepipe and Lidless. In 2009, he received another award by Esquire magazine as one of the 60 Brilliant Brits Shaping 2009.[citation needed]
In 2019, Atkinson stepped down from HighTide after twelve years to pursue new opportunities.[29]
London Theatre credits
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Regional Theatre credits
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Off-Broadway Theatre credits
[edit | edit source]- Peddling by Harry Melling, directed by Steven Atkinson (2014) NYT Critics' Pick[30]
- The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs by Mike Daisy, directed by Jean-Michelle Gregory (2012)[31]
Radio credits
[edit | edit source]- The Afghan and The Penguin by Michael Hastings, directed by Steven Atkinson (2012)
- The Shores by Vinay Patel, directed by Jessica Dromgoole (2019)
- Silver Darlings by Tallulah Brown, directed by Jessica Dromgoole (2019)
- Lampedusa by Anders Lustgarten, directed by Steven Atkinson (2015)[32]
Awards and nominations
[edit | edit source]| Year | Award | Stage Play | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Society of London Theatre New Producers' Award | Stovepipe | Won |
| 2009 | Whatsonstage Award for Best Off West End Production | Stovepipe | Nominated |
| 2010 | Fringe First Award | Lidless | Won |
| 2011 | Society of London Theatre New Producers' Award | Lidless | Won |
| 2012 | Fringe First Award | Educating Ronnie | Won |
| 2016 | Manchester Evening News Awards Best Production | So Here We Are | Won |
| 2016 | Manchester Evening News Awards Best Play | So Here We Are | Won |
| 2017 | Evening Standard Theatre Awards Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright | Harrogate | Nominated |
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lidless & Hickson's Talent Next up for Trafalgar 2 - Lidless at Trafalgar Studios (previously the Whitehall) - London - News - Whatsonstage.com
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- ^ The Stage / News / Hull Truck expands senior team before £13.8m move
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- ^ Bush Theatre Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Official_website at line 94: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Steven Atkinson at IMDbLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Steven Atkinson interview
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