Atkins began his performance career aged 12 with a role in the musical ''
Mame
MAME (formerly an acronym of Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a free and open-source emulator designed to recreate the hardware of arcade game systems in software on modern personal computers and other platforms. Its intention is to preserve ...
''. As an adult performer, as well as performing in shows such as ''
A Chorus Line
''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante.
Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is centered on seventeen Broadway dancers ...
'' and ''
The Pirates of Penzance
''The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 ...
'', he created and performed in his own works ''Dancin' Man'' and ''Dynamite''.
World events
Atkins has directed and produced major live events in various countries. These include Victory Ceremonies in
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
, British Columbia, Canada.
Honours and awards
Atkins was recognised in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia ( OAM) for his contribution to the Australian entertainment industry.
In 2010, the Australian Event Awards presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award Australian Event Awards — 2010 Official Website for his enduring contributions to the Australian events industry.
Mo Awards
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the
Mo Awards
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards) were an annual Australian entertainment industry award, that where established in 1975, to recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia. They were l ...
), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. David Atkins won nine awards in that time.
(wins only)
, -
, 1991
, David Atkins
, Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre
,
, -
, rowspan="2", 1992
, David Atkins
, Musical Theatre Male Performer of the Year
,
, -
, David Atkins
, Musical Theatre Performer of the Year
,
, -
, rowspan="2", 1994
, David Atkins
, Musical Theatre Male Performer of the Year
,
, -
, David Atkins
, Australian Showbusiness Ambassador
,
, -
, rowspan="2", 1995
, David Atkins
, Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre
,
, -
, David Atkins
, Australian Showbusiness Ambassador
,
, -
, 1997
, David Atkins
, Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre
,
, -
, 1998
, David Atkins
, Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre
,
, -