Atherton grew up in Preston, Lancashire, England and started her training at Cardinal Newman College before moving to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
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.
[9] Also in 2013, Atherton played Emily in The Hired Man, alongside David Hunter for its UK tour at Colchester Mercury and at the Curve Theatre in Leicester.
Atherton starred as Janet Majors in the world premiere stage production of Shock Treatment, the musical sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, at the King's Head Theatre Pub in Islington.
[13] Atherton was part of the cast of the 2022 Bridge Theatre production of Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust, directed by Nicholas Hytner and adapted by Bryony Lavery.
[14] La Belle Sauvage Sister Paulina Poppy Wearing Atherton is a founding member of the company of Notes From New York, bringing the works of US composers to the West End stage.
Atherton recently appeared as a headline performer alongside Ruthie Henshall and Aled Jones in Adam Hepkin's The Magic of the Musicals and as part of the Giggin' for Good concert series at the Actor's Church, Covent Garden.
She is also an emerging director and has directed of shows and musicals, including Bare: a Pop Opera, Game Theory, Ordinary Days[16] and Club Mex at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester.
Described as "a unique and groundbreaking album for the Spring Awakening and Lady Gaga generation"[citation needed], No Space for Air features material from Alanis Morissette, Skunk Anansie and Stephen Sondheim.
Track Listing 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.