David Furlong

David Furlong is a mixed race Mauritian actor and director. A versatile stage, screen and street performer, he's acted extensively over a 20 years career in London and France, in plays, films, 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 invisibilized mixed identities as part of FIVE PLAYS 2021. He's also an experienced deviser exploring in particular the decolonization of reprentations. (Noor, The Great Experiment with Border Crossings, The Cat in Reboots).

In freelance, he was assistant director at the Royal Opera House on Madama Butterfly, National Theatre on Hadestown and the Young Vic on Orfeus-A house music Opera.

He has directed and translated/adapted many plays for Exchange Theatre: The Exchange by Paul Claudel, Bal Trap by Xavier Durringer, Business which he also wrote, The Flies, 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 work was part of th2 2021 documentary In Exchange. He has worked with Joe Hill-Gibbins on the Changelling at the Young Vic and as assistant director at the Geneva Studio Opera, then Madama Buttefly at the Royal Opera House and 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 and ISTA.

“An migrant mixed-race islander, I was trained with a French heritage, close to the work of Patrice Chereau or Antoine Vitez, before pursuing a permanent ongoing training in the Uk, encountering various methods as diverse as vigorous Non- western methods, 'The actor and the Target' and even very psychological 'actor's studio. What I've learned from all of it, is how much an actor becomes interesting whenever he is engaged or engages more with anything outside of him, to bring his best out of him. Others or other worlds"

Credits

2021 Tempests. Youg Vic as part of FIVE PLAYS. A look at the difficulty to talk about invisibilised mixed minorities.

2020 The Cat in (Re)boots. A BLM kid's show exlaining bias to children. French Institute/Brighton and EdFringe/Living Record

2020 Orfeus - A House Music Opera by Nmon Ford directed by Charles Randolph Wright. Jerwood Assistant director - Young Vic theatre.

2019 4 weeks The Flies by Jean-Paul Sartre Bunker Theatre UK / Exchange Theatre
A bloody tale of existentialist freedom with a live rock band and live video design. Sartre meets Fight Club.

2018 Becoming BERENICE by Racine, translated by Rosie Hilal Voila Festival/Exchange Theatre/Theatre Forge
A musical-physical timeless classic about a woman's self-determination

2017 and 2018 8 weeks The Misanthrope by Moliere CPT /Drayton Theatre / Exchange Theatre
A 21st century take to revive the deepest of Moliere's plays vs Fake news. Funded by Unity Trust and RBKC

2016 8 weeks The doctor in Spite of Himself by Moliere Drayton Theatre / French lycee / Exchange Theatre
A contemporary take to revive the rarest Moliere's farce about his own creative journey. Offie nominated.

2014 2 months L'histoire du Soldat Opera by Stravinsky/Ramuz Geneva's Opera studio
A contemporary version of the Stravinsky Opera conducted by JM CURTI

2013 5 weeks I live with Freddie Mercury by Thierry Margot Café Théatre des Chartrons / Bordeaux
A musical tale of childhood violence through the eyes of a fan seeking fictionnal paternal love.

2012 2 weeks Scrouge adapted after Charles Dickens French Institute in London / Exchange Theatre
A Christmas musical, a bilingual and multimedia experience for Young Audiences 5-11.

2011 2 weeks Lady Mac Wata by Magali Ngongon Ngege Lion and Unicorn Theatre / Exchange Theatre
A congolese play on Shakespeare and African Mystycism with Congolese Hip Hop and live percussions.

2011 2 years Saturday French Tales residency 12 shows French Institute in London / Exchange Theatre
NUT ! A site specific Christmas show with a toy war, after The Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas.
HOW TO MAKE A GOOD LITTLE RIDING HOOD ? An audience directed bilingual show, after Perrault.
THE UNTOLD STORY OF SLEEPING BEAUTY. A site specific guided tour of the princess castle.
SIMPLICE, TALES FOR NINON. An immersive experience for children sat on a grass carpet, after Zola.
THE NECKLACE. A dark and goth tale in a ballroom, made accessible for children, after Maupassant.

2010 1 week Square(d) by David Furlong New Wimbledon Studio / Exchange Theatre
A grunge farce, the most chaotic form of theatre, about consumerism with live projections and a live rabbit.

2008 2 weeks Bal Trap by Xavier Durringer Stoked Festival / Exchange Theatre
British Premiere of "The French Ravenhill". A four hander of urban poetry with a live musician.

2007 4 weeks Business by David Furlong Pleasance Theatre / Medialex / Exchange Theatre
A 'globalised comedy' with projections and moments of "dazzling theatricality"

2006 2 weeks L’echange by Paul Claudel Hackney Empire / Jermyn St. Theatre / Exchange
British Premiere critically acclaimed. The Founder show of the company with Live Music and videofeeds.
Community or school projects

2016 Un petit jeu sans Consequence by Dell and Sybleiras Drayton Theatre/ Exchange Theatre
A French hit performed in its original by the main French Amdram company in London.

2015 House of Bernarda Alba by Rona Munro Arts Educationnal Drama School
A contemporary version of the Lorca play with foundation students of Arts Ed.

2012 Le fil a la Patte by Georges Feydeau Lion and Unicorn Theatre / Exchange Theatre
The French farce in flowery and frenetic rendition in its original language by a French amdram.

2011 Le deuil sied a Electre by Eugene O'Neill Lion and Unicorn Theatre / Echange Theatre
A French speaking version of the cult tryptich by a French amdram company.

Assistant Director
2017 Madama Butterfly Directed by Caurier and Leiser Opera by Puccini Royal Opera House
2015 Der Schauspieldirektor Directed by JM Curti Opera by Mozart Geneva's Opera studio
2006 Red Oleander Directed by Kevin Rowntree Play by Tagore Camden People's Theatre
2004 Monsieur Kolpert Directed by Hans Peter Cloos Play by David Gieselman Chaillot Theatre Paris
Acting Acting career since 2005 touring France and the Uk which includes stage combat, singing and movement skills.

Teaching
Since 2007 ongoing: Le Workshop : amateur course for French people (adults and teens) living in London, twice a week.
2015: Arts Educationnal acting foundation courses.
Memberships STAGE DIRECTORS UK (Mentor: Phelim Mc Dermott)

Training

Training
2005-ongoing Numerous workshops per year with Young Vic Genesis program, Living Pictures, Barbican Pit Lab
2001-2004 National Theatre of Chaillot, Paris. 3 Years acting (BA Hons)
1998-2000 Performing arts degree/ Bordeaux University
Playwright and Translations
Writer of 4 original plays and12 young audience adaptations.
Translator of 4 full plays from French to English 3 plays English to French.