Difference between revisions of "Fiona Ramsay"
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| − | + | [[Fiona Ramsay]] (19**-). Actress and director. | |
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
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| − | + | 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. | |
| − | Fiona | ||
| − | + | 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== | |
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For [[The Space]] she appeared in ''[[Candaules Commissioner]]'' and ''[[Dolls]]'' (directed by [[Richard Grant]] and [[Michael O'Brien]]). | 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 Mrs. Samsa in ''[[Metamorphosis]]'', Eva Braun in ''[[Summit Conference]]'', Clytemnestra in ''[[Agamemnon]]'', Jenny Diver in ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'', Sybil/Helen in ''[[Decadence]]'' | + | 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]]''. |
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| − | + | 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]]. | |
Subsequent roles include ''[[The Heidi Chronicles]]'' (1990), ''[[Six Degrees of Separation]]'' in 1992. She starred in [[Steven Berkoff]]’s ''[[Decadence]]'' in 1993. | Subsequent roles include ''[[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 Theatre]]in the [[Studio Theatre]] in 2004,''[[Honour]]'' (2004), ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 2007), ''[[Planet Perth]]''. | |
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She worked on the films ''[[Stander]]'', ''[[Critical Assignment]]'', ''[[Beat the Drum]]'', and ''[[Hotel Rwanda]]'' with Nick Nolte's Don Cheedle. | She worked on the films ''[[Stander]]'', ''[[Critical Assignment]]'', ''[[Beat the Drum]]'', and ''[[Hotel Rwanda]]'' with Nick Nolte's Don Cheedle. | ||
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== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
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[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997. | [[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997. | ||
Revision as of 05:32, 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
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.
Subsequent roles include 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.
She worked on the films Stander, Critical Assignment, Beat the Drum, and Hotel Rwanda with Nick Nolte's Don Cheedle.
Fiona has appeared in several international films - most recently in Country of my Skull. Fiona has also appeared often on television in Arende, Stolen Lives, and most recently as the feisty woman lawyer Kate Hansen in Justice for All III with Vusi Kunene - the third in the series.
In the early 2000s Fiona hosted a radio show on SAFM each week, a program devoted to Arts & 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).
Awards, etc
Fiona has been nominated for and won many awards for her performances, notably her roles in the sizzling Decadence, Alan Bennett's Talking Heads, Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and for Eva Braun in Summit Conference (1981).
Won the Most Promising New Actress for the AA Mutual Vita Awards, 1984.
Nominated in 1991 for Struts and Frets (Johannesburg Repetory Players Award for best actress in a leading role in English);
Won DALRO Award for best performance in a cabaret/revue, 1993 for Telegrams From Hell.
Fiona won the 2003 Naledi Award for best performance in a comedy for My Brilliant Divorce.
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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Return to ESAT Personalities R
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
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