David Collison’s career began in 1955 as an ASM at small theatre club in London where an interest in the creation of sound effects eventually formed the basis of his career. In 1962 he became the first person to receive a poster credit for theatre sound design.

During the 70s and 80s, he worked as sound designer on more than fifty musicals including Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Mame, A Little Night Music, Grease, Company, Applause, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc.

David had the fortune to work with many illustrious performers including Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, Sammy Davis Jnr., Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, Judi Dench, Ginger Rogers, Carol Channing, Johnny Matthis, Jean Simmons, Leslie Caron, Peter Sellers and Sean Connery.

His most recent book, NAMEDROPPING IN THE WINGS is a memoir of his theatrical career with anecdotes about the shows, the producers, the directors and the stars. Lighting & Sound International magazine said it is "Frequently hilarious". The Musical Theatre Review said "I loved this book!"

He was Sound Designer for the Royal Shakespeare Company under Sir Peter Hall and for the National Theatre Company under Sir Laurence Olivier. As part of the Theatre Projects consultancy team, he designed permanent sound systems for theatres and concert halls in the UK and around the world, including the National Theatre of Great Britain.

He has written two acclaimed books on theatre sound (Stage Sound and The Sound of Theatre) and a humorous book describing the problems he encountered trying to build a house in Spain (Are We Driving Up The Right Riverbed?).