David Atkins
Encyclopedia
David Atkins, OAM
(born 12 December 1955, in Sydney, Australia) was recognised in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the entertainment industry and is Australia’s most awarded producer, choreographer and director, and CEO of David Atkins Enterprises, a major-events production company.
. Atkins was artistic director on Hey Hey It's Saturday
and for the Bicentennial Military Tattoo. Atkins and Ignatius Jones
were also co-writers and co-directors of the Musical theatre production The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular
.
Atkins has starred in, produced, directed, choreographed and created more than 20 musicals in Australia, Britain, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
and Closing Ceremony for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
,, the Ceremonies of the Doha 2006 Asian Games, the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
, 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
and Victory Ceremonies in Vancouver
, British Columbia, Canada.. He also produced the Expo 2010
outdoor Opening Ceremony in Shanghai, which was the largest multimedia display in world history to open the largest World Expo since its 1851 inception and most recently, the 2011 Moscow City Day Anniversary Celebrations, the Opening Ceremony of the 2011 New Zealand Rugby World Cup and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 12th Arab Games in Doha, Qatar.
, the President of the International Olympic Committee, for his work on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney. and was also awarded the OAM
(Order of Australia Medal) for his work not only on the 2000 Summer Olympic Ceremonies but also for his contribution to the Australian Entertainment Industry..
In 2010, the Australian Event Awards presented David with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring contributions to the Australian events industry. In addition, his company received Best Export Award for its work on the Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the Opening Ceremony of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. The Opening Ceremony of Vancouver 2010 also collectively earned three Emmy awards.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 12 December 1955, in Sydney, Australia) was recognised in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the entertainment industry and is Australia’s most awarded producer, choreographer and director, and CEO of David Atkins Enterprises, a major-events production company.
Stage and television
Atkins created and performed in one of the first successful Australian musicals, Hot Shoe Shuffle, in 1993. The production later transferred to London's Queen's TheatreQueen's Theatre
The Queen's Theatre is a West End theatre located in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. It opened on 8 October 1907 as a twin to the neighbouring Gielgud Theatre which opened ten months earlier. Both theatres were designed by W.G.R...
. Atkins was artistic director on Hey Hey It's Saturday
Hey Hey It's Saturday
Hey Hey It's Saturday was a long-running variety television program on Australian television. It initially ran for 27 years , debuting on the Nine Network on 9 October 1971 and broadcasting its last episode on 20 November 1999. Its host throughout its entire run was Daryl Somers, who would later...
and for the Bicentennial Military Tattoo. Atkins and Ignatius Jones
Ignatius Jones
Ignatius Jones is an Australian actor and former lead singer of punk cabaret band Jimmy And The Boys.With David Atkins, he was the creative force behind the Opening Ceremony of Shanghai 2010 World Expo and the Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games...
were also co-writers and co-directors of the Musical theatre production The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular
The Man From Snowy River: Arena Spectacular
The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular, which was based on Banjo Paterson's poem The Man from Snowy River, was a very popular musical theatre production which toured Australian capital cities twice during 2002....
.
Atkins has starred in, produced, directed, choreographed and created more than 20 musicals in Australia, Britain, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
World events
Atkins has directed and produced some of the largest live events of this decade, across continents, languages and international audiences. These include artistic director of the opening2000 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics was described by IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch as the most beautiful ceremony the world has ever seen. Held on the evening of Friday 15 September 2000, the Opening Ceremony represented everything Australian, from sea creatures and flora/fauna...
and Closing Ceremony for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
,, the Ceremonies of the Doha 2006 Asian Games, the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics was held on February 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held indoors...
, 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony
The Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics took place on February 28, 2010, beginning at 5:30 pm PST at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
and Victory Ceremonies in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia, Canada.. He also produced the Expo 2010
Expo 2010
Expo 2010, officially Expo 2010 Shanghai China was held on both banks of the Huangpu River in the city of Shanghai, China, from May 1 to October 31, 2010. It was a major World Expo in the tradition of international fairs and expositions, the first since 1992...
outdoor Opening Ceremony in Shanghai, which was the largest multimedia display in world history to open the largest World Expo since its 1851 inception and most recently, the 2011 Moscow City Day Anniversary Celebrations, the Opening Ceremony of the 2011 New Zealand Rugby World Cup and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 12th Arab Games in Doha, Qatar.
Honours and Awards
David Atkins was awarded a Gold Olympic Pin by Juan Antonio SamaranchJuan Antonio Samaranch
Don Juan Antonio Samaranch y Torelló, 1st Marquis of Samaranch, Grandee of Spain , known in Catalan as Joan Antoni Samaranch i Torelló , was a Catalan Spanish sports administrator who served as the seventh President of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001...
, the President of the International Olympic Committee, for his work on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney. and was also awarded the OAM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(Order of Australia Medal) for his work not only on the 2000 Summer Olympic Ceremonies but also for his contribution to the Australian Entertainment Industry..
In 2010, the Australian Event Awards presented David with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring contributions to the Australian events industry. In addition, his company received Best Export Award for its work on the Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the Opening Ceremony of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. The Opening Ceremony of Vancouver 2010 also collectively earned three Emmy awards.