Peggy Ramsay: Queen of Agents
Channel: British Library
Date: 2022-05-09

Margaret ‘Peggy’ Ramsay was perhaps one of the most well-known and well-loved theatre agents of the 20th century. Famed for her unwavering candour, her impeccable standards and passionate generosity to all of her playwrights, Ramsay’s commitment to the betterment of the theatre industry was unmatched. 

Her astounding clientele included Eugene Ionesco, Joe Orton, Robert Bolt, David Mercer, John McGrath, Iris Murdoch, John Mortimer, James Saunders, Peter Nichols, Charles Wood, Ann Jellicoe, Edward Bond, Christopher Hampton, David Hare, Alan Ayckbourn, Caryl Churchill, Howard Brenton and Willy Russell.

Join guests including her close friend, the actor Simon Callow, client, writer and director Christopher Hampton and and theatrical agent Mel Kenyon as we celebrate the life and work of perhaps the greatest theatre agent ever to have lived. Hosted by broadcaster and theatre critic Libby Purves.

Delve with us into Peggy Ramsay’s archive, held at the British Library, which gives fascinating insight into who she was personally and professionally, and into the profound influence she had on shaping the story of 20th-century British theatre

Libby Purves is a radio presenter, broadcaster, author and theatre critic. She was the youngest ever woman to present radio 4’s Today programme and presented the channel’s Midweek for 33 years. Libby writes for many publications and in 1999, received an OBE for services to journalism as well as Columnist of the Year.

Simon Callow is one of the best-known actors of his generation and a writer and director. He is most familiar for the films Amadeus, Four Weddings and Funeral, A Room With A View and Shakespeare in Love and he has played numerous leading stage roles. Simon’s books include Being an Actor, Shooting the Actor, an acclaimed biography of Charles Laughton, a three volume biography of Orson Welles and an account of his passionate friendship with Peggy Ramsay, Love Is Where It Falls.

Mel Kenyon was literary manager of the Royal Court Theatre and joined the agency Casarotto Ramsay and Associates Ltd in 1992. Her clients are among the most celebrated theatre practitioners in the world - writers include: Alan Ayckbourn, David Hare, Caryl Churchill, Simon Stephens, Dennis Kelly, David Greig, Lucy Kirkwood, the late Tennessee Williams and Sarah Kane; directors include John Tiffany, John Crowley, Marianne Elliott, Polly Findlay and Ed Hall; designers include Bunny Christie, Vicki Mortimer and Rae Smith. She also handles the theatrical rights for several prestigious rights holders including the Dahl Estate and the novelist Neil Gaiman.

Sir Christopher Hampton is a playwright, screenwriter, translator and film director. He is perhaps best known for his work translating and adapting Dangerous Liaisons and The Father for screen, both of which he won Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay; he also received a nomination for Atonement. Chris’ extensive stage work includes, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and The Philanthropist. When he was 18, Chris sent his play script, When Did You Last See My Mother? to Peggy Ramsay. Around a week later, he received a phone call from the agent dictating, “You had better come to London. We have to decide what we are going to do about your play”. Within three months, the play had progressed to the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs. Chris proclaims that “Peggy had made it so easy”.