Difference between revisions of "Fiona Ramsay"
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1992 Best Actress [Fleur Du Cap Award] For Helen/Sybil In Decadence | 1992 Best Actress [Fleur Du Cap Award] For Helen/Sybil In Decadence | ||
1984 Best Newcomer [Vita Award] | 1984 Best Newcomer [Vita Award] | ||
− | 1981 Best Actress Award [Fleur Du Cap] For Eva Braun In Summit Conference | + | 1981 Best Actress Award [Fleur Du Cap] For Eva Braun In Summit Conference |
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== Sources == | == Sources == |
Revision as of 05:52, 1 May 2022
Fiona Ramsay (19**-). Actress and director.
Contents
Biography
Fiona was born in Johannesburg, she graduated with a BA and Performer's Diploma in Drama from the University of Cape Town Drama Department in 1979, completed an MA in Dramatic Art from Wits University in 2014 and is currently working on a PhD. on the implications for teaching acting technique and skills if practices and content fall outside a cultural range the students are asked to inhabit.
Fiona acted in South Africa on graduating, working at The Space in the 1970s, then at The Market Theatre since 1980’s. She subsequently moved to the UK for 5 years, where she built up an impressive body of work. Among the highlights were playing "Lady Croom" and "Hannah" for the Royal National Theatre's Arcadia by Tom Stoppard and "Lady Macbeth" in Macbeth.
On her return Fiona founded the Speakeasy Vocal Academy, which trains in all areas of vocal development and production, notably as dialect and dialogue coach for international films and television.
Since appointed a Senior Lecturer at Wits School of Arts and appointed Head of Department for Theatre and Performance in 2021.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Stage work
For The Space she appeared in Candaules Commissioner and Dolls (directed by Richard Grant and Michael O'Brien).
She was a founder member of the Troupe Theatre Company in 1980 and performed in all their productions including playing "Mrs. Samsa" in Metamorphosis, "Eva Braun" in Summit Conference, "Clytemnestra" in Agamemnon, "Jenny Diver" in The Threepenny Opera, "Sybil/Helen" in Decadence. Other plays included Fanshen, Guinea Fowl and Claw.
At the Market Theatre she starred in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Kafka’s Metamorphosis at the Market Theatre, played "Jessica" in The Merchant of Venice, appeared in Barney Simon's production of Still Life, A Midsummer Night's Dream As You Like It and Scorched Earth and She helped write his Born in the RSA. She also appeared in Simon's play Joburg Sis! when it was performed at the Kings Head Theatre in London.
Work for various other companies has included "Emelia" in Othello for CAPAB, "Jan in Bedroom Farce for the Baxter Company '82, "Martha Livingstone" in Agnes of God at the Baxter Theatre and the Alhambra Theatre (1983), . She was later replaced by Sandra Duncan co-starred with Richard Haines in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing (directed by Nikolas Simmonds at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1983), In Praise of Rattigan (with Rex Garner, Jonathan Rands and Neville Thomas, directed by Rex Garner, 1984), the Baxter Theatre production of Steven Berkoff’s Decadence in 1984, Benefactors(1985) and Rough Crossing (1987), As You Like It (1989, Scorched Earth ( and Hapgood at the Alexander Theatre, The Heidi Chronicles (1990), Six Degrees of Separation in 1992. She starred in Steven Berkoff’s Decadence in 1993. Six Degrees of Separation (1991), The Book Club, Ladies and Gentlemen, Shakespeare!, Life X3 and Sleeping Beauty, Indiscretions (1996), [[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf] (2001)], My Brilliant Divorce (2002-2003), also at Montecasino Theatrein the Studio Theatre in 2004,Honour (2004), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Baxter Theatre, 2007), Planet Perth, , Delirium [2012], Miss Dietrich Regrets [2015], Doubt [2015], The Imagined Land [2015], Les Cenci [2016] Blonde Poison [2016 – 2018], If We Dig [2016], Sweet Bird of Youth [2017/8], The Glass Menagerie [2019].
Film work
She worked as dialogue coach on the films Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom [Idris Elba, Naomi Harris], Winnie [Jennifer Hudson, Terrence Howard], The Dark Tower [Idris Elba], Roots [remake of tele series dir: Phillip Noyce], City of Violence [Orlando Bloom, Forrest Whittaker] Stander, Critical Assignment, Beat the Drum and Hotel Rwanda with Nick Nolte's Don Cheedle.
As an actress Fiona has appeared in several international films - most recently in Maze Runner III: Death Cure, Homeland, The Watch and Country of my Skull.
Television and radio
Fiona has also appeared often on television in Arende, Stolen Lives, Justice for All (series 3).
In the early 2000s Fiona hosted a radio show on SAFm each week, a program devoted to Arts and Culture issues and the world of entertainment, called Art of the Matter. Fiona could also be seen on M-Net's Project Fame as the performance coach.
As director
She directed Total Eclipse for the Grahamstown Festival (1979), Christopher Durang’s Laughing Wild at the Market Theatre in October 1990, Nunsense (2004) and Guga Mzimba: The life and work of Gerard Sekoto at the Market Theatre.
Awards, etc
Fiona has been nominated for and won many awards for her performances. The list includes:
2019 Best Leading Actress [Fleur Du Cap] for "Amanda" in The Glass Menagerie. 2018 Best Leading Actress [Fleur Du Cap] For Princess Kos In Sweet Bird Of Youth [Nom] 2017 Best Supporting Actress [Tmta] For Beatrice In Les Cenci 2016 Best Actress [Naledi] For Sister Aloysius In Doubt 2016 Best Actress [Naledi] For Marlene In Miss Dietrich Regrets 2014 Best Actress [Naledi] For Levana In Delirium [Nom] 2007 Best Actress In A Musical [Naledi Award] For Mrs Meers In Thoroughly Modern Millie 2005 Best Actress [Naledi] For Honor In Honour [Nom] 2005 Best Actress [Duka Duka] For Dorothy Wilcox In Hard Copy 2003 Best Actress Award [Naledi] For Angela In My Brilliant Divorce 2001 Best Supporting Actress Award [Vita Award] For Ines In Life X 3. 1993. Best Performance By Actress [After Dark] For Marianne In Telegrams From Hell 1993 Best Actress [Fnb Vita] For Helen/Sybil In Decadence 1993 Best Actress [Dalro] For Helen/Sylbil In Decadence 1992 Best Actress [Fleur Du Cap Award] For Helen/Sybil In Decadence 1984 Best Newcomer [Vita Award] 1981 Best Actress Award [Fleur Du Cap] For Eva Braun In Summit Conference
Sources
Tucker, 1997.
Beeld Plus, 1 March 2001.
Beeld Plus, 2 June 2001.
Honour programme notes, 2004.
Oggendblad, 6 May 2004.
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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