In the room: David Furlong, a mixed‑race Mauritian actor, director, dramaturg and educator, and the Artistic Director and Founder of Exchange Theatre, established in 2006 to champion multilingual voices and cross‑cultural performance in the UK. Originally focused on bringing lesser known French classic and contemporary works into the London theater consciousness – often doing performances in both languages – Exchange has expanded over the years to incorporate wider aspects of cultural "exchange." David has worked across stage, screen and street theater, building a distinctive practice rooted in his passion about migration, identity and the decolonization of representation, and his work has also touched on non-western storytelling influences (including Indian and Japanese). How did he start his company in 2006, and was it hard finding venues to work in? Has his mission changed or evolved? What sources of support help him keep going? What were some key moments in the growth of his company? Is running a theater company in London different from running one in the U.S.? We'll also talk about other programs run by Exchange, including a complete ecosystem of services to help artists get their works up and showcased.