The Irish Jewish actor, writer and theatre school founder has died at the age of 78
Anna Scher, namesake of the famous Islington theatre school, has passed away aged 78. Since founding the school in 1968, she taught many children who went on to become household names, including Kathy Burke, with her flair for comedy, Spandau Ballet’s Kemp brothers, Gary and Martin, and EastEnder Patsy Palmer. More recently, her pupils have included Hackney-born TV and Netflix star Zawe Ashton and Oscar-winning Hollywood hit Daniel Kaluuya.
She was born Anna Valerie Scher on Boxing Day 1944 to an Irish Jewish family in Cork. Her father Eric, a dentist of Lithuanian descent, shortened his name from Ascher and, with his wife Claire (née Hurwitz), had four daughters, of which Anna was the oldest.
Scher took to being the only Jewish girl at her convent school, especially as the nuns spotted her talent for reciting poetry and prose. An after-hours singing and dance teacher completed the nurturing of her talent and a triple threat (who could sing, dance and act) was launched on enthusiastic audiences.
Despite her father's wish that she follow him into dentistry, Scher moved to the UK to study at Brighton School of Music and Art. She juggled a job in local journalism, writing a column for the Islington Gazette, while trying her hand at acting and poetry, followed by a teaching position at Ecclesbourne Junior School. Her work there with children whose first language was not English, was a building block for her future.
The Anna Scher Theatre started as a drama club in the school library during lunch breaks or after hours. Two years later she moved to a nearby bingo hall, where the future Birds of a Feather actors, Linda Robson and Pauline Quirk, were among her students.
Charles Verrall, first her partner in the drama club from 1970 and then for life when they married in 1976, ran the business and charity with her, managing and nurturing young actors, with improv as the base of their training. They had a son, John. Verrall died just weeks before Scher, aged 79.
Despite a breakdown at the turn of the 21st century, which left Scher temporarily out of the business, she showed her mettle by reinventing herself – and the theatre that bore her name.
She was a true inspiration for me, especially as improvisation was the basis of so much of her work, as indeed it was of my own when I was drama lecturer. I was fortunate enough to meet her in person and her empathy and enthusiasm lit up our conversation as we compared notes. It came as a shock that someone so full of life, who energised so many others, especially the young people she taught, was no longer out there sprinkling her fairy dust.
Another reason behind my admiration was her active involvement in promoting peace and understanding, where again her communication skills were put to good use, including in Israel/Palestine, where she was a patron of of the cooperative village Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (Oasis of Peace in Hebrew and Arabic), where Israeli Jews and Arabs live peacefully side by side.
Scher received recognition in many ways, including being a castaway on Desert Island Discs in 2011 and receiving an MBE two years later, where she must have cut a spectacular figure. She was known for her colourful outfits, glittering costume jewellery and wonderfully coiffed mane of blonde hair. Her memory will continue to shine.
By Judi Herman