Anna Scher Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Anna Scher Theatre is a community-based theatre school
based in Islington
, North London
. The school turns out some of London
's best child and adult actors.
mother and Jewish Lithuanian dentist
father. Starting out as an actor, her father told her to get a proper job, and so she became a journalist specialising in the theatre with the Islington Gazette for five years, and reviewed for The Times
Literary Supplement.
Scher's philosophy
on life has always been based on promoting love, peace and understanding through both learning and professionalism. Her heroes are Martin Luther King, Anne Frank
, Nelson Mandela
and Winston Churchill
Scher was also chairperson of the International Song Contest for Peace also in Ireland, and served on the juries at BAFTA, the Sony Awards and the Royal Television Society
.
In the 35 years since starting the theatre school, Scher has been awarded:
stars Pauline Quirke
(aged 9), and Linda Robson
(aged 10). Ray Burdis
(aged 11)
In 1970, the classes moved across the road to a council hall in Bentham Court on Ecclesbourne Road. By 1975 she had 1,000 pupils and 5,000 on the waiting list, so moved to the custom converted mission hall on Barnsbury Road in 1976, when the school was established as a charity
.
Scher's teaching style produces what critics call a natural delivery, but Scher comments that she just uses their natural voice. Her improvisation
technique has become famous:
In 2000, Scher suffered ill health and stepped down during her recovery period. Scher was never reinstated as head of the theatre, despite a vociferous campaign led by her and her supporters, The Friends of Anna Scher. In 2005, the remaining staff and board set up a new school but Anna Scher went on to continue her theatre school under her own name at the nearby Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, Islington. Since 2009, the Anna Scher Theatre has been teaching from the St Silas Church, Penton Street, N1 9UL, Islington and classes are by Anna Scher and Bernie Burdis, who have taught together for over 30 years, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In 2011, the Anna Scher Theatre, in association with Nic Knight Management, launched a new website for the drama classes www.annaschertheatre.com which runs along side the agency website, www.nicknightmanagement.com
Drama school
A drama school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution ; which specialises in the pre-professional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre, arts administration, and...
based in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
. The school turns out some of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's best child and adult actors.
Anna Scher
Anna Scher was born the daughter of IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
mother and Jewish Lithuanian dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
father. Starting out as an actor, her father told her to get a proper job, and so she became a journalist specialising in the theatre with the Islington Gazette for five years, and reviewed for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
Literary Supplement.
Scher's philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
on life has always been based on promoting love, peace and understanding through both learning and professionalism. Her heroes are Martin Luther King, Anne Frank
Anne Frank
Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank is one of the most renowned and most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Acknowledged for the quality of her writing, her diary has become one of the world's most widely read books, and has been the basis for several plays and films.Born in the city of Frankfurt...
, Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
Scher was also chairperson of the International Song Contest for Peace also in Ireland, and served on the juries at BAFTA, the Sony Awards and the Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
.
In the 35 years since starting the theatre school, Scher has been awarded:
- Community award from the Irish Post
- Woman of Distinction Award from Jewish Care
- Peace Person of the Year Award, Ireland, 1999
- Associate of RADARadaRada is the term for "council" or "assembly"borrowed by Polish from the Low Franconian "Rad" and later passed into the Czech, Ukrainian, and Belarusian languages....
- Honorary Fellow of the Leinster School of Music & DramaLeinster School of Music & DramaThe Leinster School of Music & Drama provides tuition and examinations in music and drama throughout Ireland."She beckoned to him with her finger like one preparing a certificate in pianoforte...at the Leinster School of Music." -History:...
- Patron of Neve Shalom/Wahat al Salam — Oasis of Peace. In March 2003, Anna was a
- Freedom of the London Borough of Islington, March 2003
Theatre school
In 1968, Scher started an afterschool drama club at Islington's Ecclesbourne Primary School. 70 pupils came the first week, including future Birds of a FeatherBirds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather was a British sitcom that was broadcast on BBC1 from 1989 until 1998. Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, it was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote some of the episodes along with many other writers.The first episode sees sisters...
stars Pauline Quirke
Pauline Quirke
Pauline Perpetua Quirke is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Sharon in the comedy series Birds of a Feather, alongside her lifelong friend and frequent acting partner Linda Robson...
(aged 9), and Linda Robson
Linda Robson
Linda Patricia Mary Robson is an English actress. She played Tracey in the BBC comedy, Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998.-Personal life and education:...
(aged 10). Ray Burdis
Ray Burdis
Ray Burdis is an English actor, screenwriter, director and film producer.Burdis started acting at eleven years old when he trained at the Anna Scher Theatre in Islington...
(aged 11)
In 1970, the classes moved across the road to a council hall in Bentham Court on Ecclesbourne Road. By 1975 she had 1,000 pupils and 5,000 on the waiting list, so moved to the custom converted mission hall on Barnsbury Road in 1976, when the school was established as a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
.
Scher's teaching style produces what critics call a natural delivery, but Scher comments that she just uses their natural voice. Her improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
technique has become famous:
In 2000, Scher suffered ill health and stepped down during her recovery period. Scher was never reinstated as head of the theatre, despite a vociferous campaign led by her and her supporters, The Friends of Anna Scher. In 2005, the remaining staff and board set up a new school but Anna Scher went on to continue her theatre school under her own name at the nearby Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, Islington. Since 2009, the Anna Scher Theatre has been teaching from the St Silas Church, Penton Street, N1 9UL, Islington and classes are by Anna Scher and Bernie Burdis, who have taught together for over 30 years, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In 2011, the Anna Scher Theatre, in association with Nic Knight Management, launched a new website for the drama classes www.annaschertheatre.com which runs along side the agency website, www.nicknightmanagement.com
Literature
- Anna Scher (1988), Desperate to Act, Collins, ISBN 9780006728528.
- Anna Scher & Charles Verrall (1975),100+ Ideas for Drama, Heinemann Educational, ISBN 9780435187996.
- Anna Scher & Charles Verrall (1976), First Act: Drama Kit, Ward Lock Educational, ISBN 9780706235463.
- Anna Scher & Charles Verrall (1987), Another 100+ Ideas for Drama, Heinemann Educational, ISBN 9780435188009.
- Anna Scher & Charles Verrall (1992), 200+ Ideas for Drama, Heinemann Educational, ISBN 9780435086060.