David Furlong is an Artistic Director – Exchange Theatre
A versatile stage, screen and street performer, he’s acted extensively over a 20 years career in London and France, in plays, films and street theatre.
David Furlong established Exchange Theatre in 2006 as artistic director, and has been its artistic director and producer since then. As Young Vic Jerwood director 2021, he directed TEMPESTS about invisibilised mixed identities as part of FIVE PLAYS 2021. He’s also an experienced deviser exploring in particular the decolonisation of representations (Noor, The Great Experiment with Border Crossings, The Cat in Reboots). He’s also a “race & allyship” trainer for Maya productions with Tonic Theatre.
In freelance, he was assistant director at the Royal Opera House on Madama Butterfly, at the National Theatre on Hadestown and at the Young Vic on Orfeus – a house music Opera.
He has directed and translated/adapted many plays for Exchange Theatre which were produced bilingually: The Exchange by Paul Claudel, Bal Trap by Xavier Durringer, Business which he also wrote, The Flies by Jean-Paul Sartre, Moliere’s Misanthrope.
He was mentee of sduk 2017 and nominated for best director in 2018 and best production 2019 at the Off West End awards. His bilingual work was part of the 2021 documentary In Exchange.
He has also worked with Joe Hill-Gibbins on the Changeling at the Young Vic and as assistant director on The Changeling, at the Geneva Studio Opera, on Madama Butterfly at the Royal Opera House and on Hadestown at the National Theatre.
He also co-produces with Exchange Theatre some cross-cultural shows and is a founder member of Migrants in Theatre.
As an actor in London, he took part in many productions including Love’s Labours Lost, The Rover, Red Oleander and the Rover. For Exchange Theatre, he was Orestes in JP Sartre’s The Flies, Philippe in A Family Affair, Sganarelle in Dom Juan, Alceste in Misanthrope, and Macbeth in Macbeth. In France, he worked with many major directors including Muriel Sapinho, Hans Peter Cloos, Deborah Warner, Christophe Botti and Michel Lopez.
His theatre credits in France include Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, Monserrat in Monserrat, the Father in Tatoo, Camille in A Flea in His Ear and he was part of a rep company for which he performed many French classics: Moliere, Hugo, Marivaux, Musset.
David has now taught for over fifteen years in both French and English. He taught at Arts Educational Foundation courses, Identity School of Acting, ISTA and at Le Worshop, which he created and that provides amateur theatre classes in French.
What to find out more about David?
Take the quiz
#1. What is David’s favourite Theatre production?
#2. What drama school did David train at?
#3. How much of the time as an Artistic Director does David actually spend directing?
#4. What does David say is the best part about being an Artistic Director?
#5. At which Southwark Theatre was David an Associate Artist?
#6. What is David’s favourite place in Southwark?
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