Anna Valerie Scher MBE (26 December 1944 – 12 November 2023) was an Irish-born British teacher known for her contributions to drama education.
[1] Born in Cork, Ireland, she was the eldest of four daughters of Eric, a dentist of Lithuanian-Jewish descent, and Claire (née Hurwitz).
[1][2] Scher was educated at St Angela's Convent in Cork, where she was the only Jewish student and developed an early interest in tap-dancing and stage performance.
[2] In 1959, the Scher family relocated to Hove, East Sussex, a move initiated by her father's desire to integrate into a larger Jewish community.
[2][3] These classes grew in popularity and included future actors Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson among their attendees.