Steven Atkinson

In 2019 he stepped down from HighTide after twelve years to pursue new opportunities.

In 2016 Atkinson gave an interview to The Stage where he said of the HighTide Festival: ‘we want to be theatre’s Sundance.’

“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.” The Telegraph

He has twice been awarded by The Society of London Theatre with their Emerging Producers Bursary for Stovepipe and Lidless. In 2009 he was awarded by Esquire magazine as one of the 60 Brilliant Brits Shaping 2009.

His career started in script development working at the Donmar Warehouse under Michael Grandage, the Royal Court under Ian Rickson, and Hull Truck Theatre under John Godber. He produced Hull Truck's first new writing festival in 2007.

In 2007 Atkinson co-founded and became artistic director of HighTide, quickly establishing it as one of the UK's leading theatre production companies.

Atkinson read Film & Theatre at the University of Reading, graduating in 2005.

Steven Atkinson (born 4th May 1984) is an award winning British producer working in theatre and film.