David Aukin served as the literary adviser at the
Traverse Theatre (1970–73). From 1970 to 1974, he served as Chairman of the
Oval House Arts Centre. Along with
David Hare and
Max Stafford-Clark, Aukin co-founded the
Joint Stock Theatre Company in 1974. During this period he presented The Open Theatre and two seasons of Le Grand Magic Circus all at the Roundhouse Theatre and presented numerous fringe companies in the UK and abroad, including The Freehold, The
People Show, Pip Simmons Theatre Group and the premiere of Pam Gems' first stage play at the Cockpit Theatre. From 1974 through 1975, Aukin was an administrator with
Anvil Productions in
Oxford. In 1975, Aukin became an administrator at the
Hampstead Theatre. He was then appointed artistic director of the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester where he premiered
Me and My Girl which went on to win many awards on the West End and Broadway. In 1986 he was appointed executive director of the National Theatre which he ran with
Richard Eyre until 1990 when he was headhunted to be Head of Film at Channel 4. He subsequently has produced intermittently in the West End, including
Dance of Death with
Ian McKellen, and
Onassis by
Martin Sherman with
Robert Lindsay. In 2002, Aukin produced the Broadway revival of
The Elephant Man. == Film work ==