Fiona Ramsay

Sometimes wrongly written "Fiona Ramsey".

(19**-) Actress and director. Born in Johannesburg. Graduated from UCT, 1979 with BA, & Performance Arts Diploma, Best Actress Fleur de Cap, 1981, won the Most Promising New Actress for the AA Mutual Vita Awards, 1984. She was a founder member of the Troupe Theatre Company and performed in all their productions. Worked at The Space in the 1970s, appearing in Candaules Commissioner and Dolls (directed by Richard Grant and Michael O’Brien), *** Other roles include "Eva" in Summit Conference (Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, Best Actress, 1981), "Helen/Sybil" in Berkoff's hugely successful and frequently repeated Decadence (Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, Best Actress, 1992 - also done 199* and 2003), Born in the RSA (Simon & Co, 1985), As director *** RAMSAY, Fiona. She starred in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Kafka’s Metamorphosis together with Henry Goodman, Steven Berkoff and Ian Roberts. It was directed by Richard E. Grant and Mike O’Brien and staged at the Market in 1980. She starred in Pieter Toerien’s production of Agnes of God together with Pauline Bailey and Lena Ferugia which was directed by Nikolas Simmonds at the Baxter and the Alhambra in 1983. She was later replaced by Sandra Duncan when she opened at the Andre Huguenet co-starring with Richard Haines in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing which was directed by Nikolas Simmonds in 1983. She starred in In praise of Rattigan together with Rex Garner, Jonathan Rands and Neville Thomas with direction by Rex Garner in 1984. She starred in the Baxter production of Steven Berkoff’s Decadence together with Henry Goodman with direction by Ron Smerczak in 1984. Together with the cast comprising Vanessa Cooke, Timmy Kwebulana, Gcina Mhlophe, Terry Norton, Thoko Ntshinga and Neil McCarthy, and in collaboration with its director Barney Simon, she helped write Born in the RSA which opened at Upstairs at the Market in August 1985 before moving to the main theatre. She starred in Michael Frayn’s Benefactors which was directed by Rex Garner for Pieter Toerien in 1985. She starred in Tom Stoppard’s Rough Crossing at the Alhambra in 1987. She starred in Fred Abrahams’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Market in 1989. She starred in François Swart’s production of As You Like It in 1989. She starred in Pieter-Dirk Uys’ Scorched Earth in Johannesburg in 1989. She starred in Tom Stoppard’s Hapgood at the Alexander in 1989. She directed Christopher Durang’s Laughing Wild at the Market in October 1990. She starred in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation in 1992. She starred in Steven Berkoff’s Decadence in 1993. *** Scorched Earth (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1989), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Baxter Theatre, 2007)

RAMSAY, Fiona, Metamorphosis, Summit Conference.

Quoted from the programme of Agnes of God wherein she played the role of Martha Livingstone in 1983: 'Fiona Ramsay was born in Johannesburg, and graduated with a BA and Performer's Diploma in Drama at UCT in 1979; and in that year directed Total Eclipse for the Grahamstown Festival. Was a founder member of Troupe Theatre Company and performed in all productions including Mrs. Samsa in Metamorphosis, Eva Braun in Summit Conference, Clytemnestra in Agamemnon, Jenny Diver in Threepenny Opera, Sybil/Helen in Decadence, Fanshen, Guinea Fowl and Claw. Appeared as Jessica in Merchant of Venice and Emelia in Othello for CAPAB, and Jan in Bedroom Farce for the Baxter Company '82. Recently was seen at the Market Theatre in Barney Simon's production of Still Life and in his play Jo'burg Sis at the Kings Head Theatre in London. This is her first production for Pieter Toerien. She won the Fleur du Cap Award in 1981 as Best Actress for Eva Braun in Summit Conference. Recently nominated again for the same award for Sybil/Helen Decadence and for an Artes Award for her work on radio.'

Quoted from the programme notes of Honour in 2004: 'Fiona is one of South Africa's leading actresses, working locally and overseas. She built up an impressive body of work while in England - highlights were playing Lady Croom and Hannah for the Royal National Theatre's Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. 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. Fiona's many appearances include, Agnes of God, Born in the RSA, Indiscretions, Six Degrees of Seperation, Benefactors, The Book Club, Ladies and Gentlemen Shakespeare, Life X3 and Sleeping Beauty. 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. 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. Recently she worked on Stander, Critical Assignment, Beat the Drum, and Hotel Rwanda with Nick Nolte's Don Cheedle. Fiona hosts 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 won the 2003 Naledi Award for best performance in a comedy for My Brilliant Divorce. Fiona can currently be seen on M-Net's Project Fame as the performance coach.'

Sources

Programme notes of Agnes of God in 1983.

Programme notes of Honour in 2004.

Tucker, 1997

SACD 1981/82;

http://www.whoswho.co.za/fiona-ramsay-5656

http://www.speakeasy.co.za/profile.html

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