Scher returns to teaching

Drama school principal Anna Scher has begun teaching again – but not at the institution that bears her name and that refused to reinstate her after a two-year absence.

Scher, who stood down as principal of Anna Scher Theatre School in 1999 suffering depression, has been forced to hold drama classes in the Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall in King’s Cross after the school’s trustees said she could not return as head.

Father Jim Marshall, the parish priest said: “A number of parishioners came to us about Anna’s cause and the church thought we should support her as best we could because it is a justice issue. Many people said they had been helped by Anna and her incredibly unique method.

“It is sad that the trustees have taken a road that exiles Anna and is totally unjustified and immoral but now she’s back in business and should be supported in what she’s doing. She started in a council hall 37 years ago and now she’s in a church hall.”

Scher is also planning to launch an agency in a bid to win back support from casting directors, agents and directors. Marshall claimed the theatre school’s agency had been sending pupils to adverts – something not allowed under Scher’s tenure – and said tutors had been departing from her improvisational method.

The former principal’s plight caused a furore earlier this year after negotiations for Scher to rejoin the school broke down. According to the board, the former principal resigned as a director to the board in 2000. However, Scher claims she was unwell when she gave notice and that it had not been accepted.

This week, Scher said she had invited three of the trustees barring her return – Colin Bourne, Leigh Shrine and acting chairwoman Pam Taylor – to a lunchtime meeting but said only Bourne had replied to decline.

“I have been invited to use another lovely venue in the West End but what about the children of Islington?” said Scher. “Despite enormous public pressure to reinstate me, the board managed to find another principal [following the resignation of successor Andy Smith in January] but the board won’t say who he is. It is preposterous. However, I am not bitter, not angry, just incredulous.”

A spokeswoman for the Anna Scher Theatre School declined to comment.