FOR the past few months The Follow Spot has been bringing a taste of the West End to Kemp Town’s retro supper club Proud Cabaret Brighton.

The final Follow Spot of the year sees Julie Atherton take to the stage – a performer probably best known for providing the voice and movements for the puppet Kate Monster in the original West End production of Avenue Q.

“It was great – all the focus was on this little kid if I did my job right,” laughs Atherton, who made her West End debut in the lead role of Sophie in Mamma Mia! back in 2000.

“Getting it right was really tough, especially carrying it around all the time. I hurt my shoulder doing that show and it has never been the same since. When I heard Avenue Q was closing and was offered the chance to come back for the final leg, it was an absolute yes!”

Atherton’s biggest solo performance at the London Apollo in 2011 saw Kate Monster reunite briefly with her operator, but the singer claims the foam puppet’s dressing room demands are so ridiculous she won’t be making an appearance in Brighton.

“It was hard leaving the show and having to say goodbye to Kate Monster,” she says. “It wasn’t just like putting on a costume.”

Since Avenue Q, Atherton has appeared in the West End shows Tomorrow Morning, Through The Door, Tick Tick... BOOM! and The Last Five Years, as well as taking the title role in Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith last Christmas.

Her career has also seen her take lead parts in the touring versions of Sister Act and Fame.

Until last weekend she was working with city-based playwrights Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon, starring alongside Great British Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc in The Opinion Makers, a new musical comedy set in a 1960s market research company at the Derby Theatre. It carries on her interest in new work, which saw her co-launch Notes From New York, a company that focuses on new writing.

“I’m very passionate about all the off-West End theatres that are doing really well with new work,” she says. “Unfortunately nobody wants to take the risk and put millions into a massive West End production which might fail.

“We need people who will take a risk and believe in work that isn’t just based around music by a famous band and a comedian who has written the book.”

Atherton is currently working on a new musical Mrs Gucci by Marcos D’Cruze and Peter Jukes, which was given its concert debut in October. Atherton plays the title role, which is based on the true story of Patrizia Reggiani Martinelli, who was given a 26-year prison sentence for ordering the murder of her ex-husband, the former director of the Gucci fashion house, in 1995.

“Everyone knows about Versace being shot, but no one knows about Mrs Gucci,” says Atherton. “She was released from prison a month before we did the concert version of the show.

“I love originating things, or being part of something that hasn’t been open for very long. Once something has been open for a while, as an actress you feel there’s a certain way that people see a character. You don’t want to be a carbon copy – it’s nice to have freedom with a character.”

This cabaret performance will showcase Atherton’s recording career, which has seen her release two albums. A Girl Of Few Words, from 2006, was a collection of songs penned by US composer Charles Miller, while 2010’s No Space For Air featured a selection of her favourite music.

“I wanted to show off songwriters I believe in, such as Craig Adams and Michael Bruce, alongside songs I could do something with, such as Skunk Anansie’s Weak,” says Atherton.

“Craig was my musical director and his arrangements were amazing. If I try to explain what’s in my head he gets it. There may be a third album – there are a couple of new songs although I don’t know if they will make it to Brighton.”

Support from Mark Dickinson. Compered by Lucy Pickering.

  • THE FOLLOW SPOT is being performef at Proud Cabaret Brighton, St George’s Road, Brighton on Sunday, December 1.
  • Doors open at 7pm, performance starts 8pm, tickets from £16.80, call 01273 605789