Michael Atkins facts for kids

Michael Atkins (1747-1812) was an important actor and theatre manager who was born in England but spent most of his career in Ireland. Many people consider him the most important person in the early history of theatre in Belfast.

Michael Atkins: A Theatre Pioneer

Michael Atkins came from a family of performers. His father was a singer at the famous Drury Lane Theatre in London. His uncle, Charles Atkins, was also an actor around the same time. Michael Atkins himself performed in London when he was young. However, he mostly built his career in Ireland. He worked at the Belfast Theatre and other theatres in cities like Newry, Derry, and Sligo.

Early Life and Acting Career

Atkins began acting at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin in the early 1760s. Later in that decade, he worked with James Parker's theatre company in Belfast. He gained valuable experience in different parts of Ireland.

Building Belfast's Theatre Scene

In 1773, Michael Atkins started his own theatre company at Belfast's Mill Gate Theatre. He helped make Belfast a more important place for theatre. From 1778 to 1780, he acted at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin. He then returned to the Mill Gate in 1781.

Many talented actors performed in Belfast during this time. These included Andrew Cherry and William Macready. In 1783, Atkins helped build a brand new, bigger theatre in Rosemary Lane in Belfast. He even featured the rising star actress Anne Brunton there. In 1791, he moved to another new theatre, the Arthur Street Theatre.

Discovering New Talent

After some challenges, Atkins's theatre became very strong again in the early 1800s. He brought in famous actors like Montague Talbot. In 1802, he arranged for the legendary actress Sarah Siddons to perform with Talbot for fourteen nights.

Atkins also had a knack for finding new talent. In August 1803, he gave the child actor Master Betty his very first professional performance in Belfast. Master Betty later became a huge star in London. In 1805, Atkins recruited a young actor named Edmund Kean. This was the same year Sarah Siddons returned to perform in Belfast again.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1805, after 32 years, Michael Atkins decided to retire from managing his theatre company. He sold his rights to Thomas Ludford Bellamy. However, Atkins continued to act on stage. He passed away on April 15, 1812, in Ann Street in Belfast.

Atkins was married to Catherine Hutton, an actress from Belfast. They had three children together, and all of them were involved in theatre in some way. His granddaughter even married the famous actor William Macready. Michael Atkins left a lasting mark on the theatre world, especially in Belfast.