Theatre queen Anna Scher celebrates 43 years of teaching in Islington

ANNA Scher celebrated the 43rd birthday of her renowned theatre school with some of the people who have helped make her time in Islington so special.

The veteran drama teacher, who started the Anna Scher Theatre at the Ecclesbourne School, off Essex Road, in 1968, marked the latest anniversary with a party at her current premises at St Silas Church, in Risinghill street, Islington.

She counts actresses Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, comedian Kathy Burke, and Eastenders stars Patsy Palmer and Nathalie Cassidy among the thousands of Islingtonians she has taught - but says every pupil has been special.

“It has been an absolute privilege and a pleasure to teach each and every one and im very lucky to still be doing it,” said Ms Scher, who lives in Barnsbury.

“Carrying on keeps me young and fit and I still get so man letters from former pupils, which means an awful lot.

“We are part social club, part therapy in a way, because improvisation is our staple and its such a wonderful vehicle form of self expression.

“We do a lot of work around conflict resolution and problem solving, but we also have lots of fun. I’m always in favour of a bit of fun.”