51-506: The Anna Scher Theatre is an independent and co-educational performing arts school based in Islington , Greater London. It was founded in 1968 by Anna Scher . It is considered among the first schools of its kind geared towards working class students. Anna Valerie Scher , MBE , was born on 26 December 1944 in Cork, Ireland , to Irish Jewish parents, Claire Hurwitz, and Eric Asher Scher,
102-407: A 1,800-seat theatre with 10 bars. The theatre suffered damage in a fire in 1958 and has not reopened. Between 92 and 162 acts were put on each evening and performers who started there included Marie Lloyd , George Robey , Harry Lauder , Harry Tate , George Formby , Vesta Tilley , Tommy Trinder , Gracie Fields , Tommy Handley and Norman Wisdom . The Islington Literary and Scientific Society
153-767: A Good Thing Going " on Mushroom Records . The song reached No. 14 in the UK Singles Chart in June 2000. A follow-up single was recorded but never released. He had earlier released a 1995 Children in Need single with Patsy Palmer , "You Better Believe It". That track reached No. 60 in the UK chart. He returned to EastEnders in 2002, first appearing in a spin-off episode Ricky and Bianca which aired in May 2002 which saw his character reunite with his ex-wife Bianca. He returned to
204-586: A celebrity boxing match with Ben Fogle , for Sport Relief , which Fogle ultimately won. Owen also starred in ITV1's prison drama Bad Girls in 2006, during the shows eighth and final series. His character fell for prisoner Janine Nebeski, played by his ex- EastEnders co-star, Nicola Stapleton . Owen appeared in The Bill on 6 November 2007. On 30 October 2007, it was confirmed that Owen would make his return to EastEnders in 2008. This news came 24 hours after
255-594: 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 performing arts school was established as an independent charity. Scher's teaching style produces what critics call a natural delivery, but Scher comments that she just uses their natural voice. Of her improvisation technique, she told Simon Hattenstone of The Guardian in 2004: I fell into that quite by chance – necessity
306-785: A dentist of Lithuanian descent. After starting out as an actress, her father told her to get a proper job, so she became a journalist specialising in theatre with the Islington Gazette for five years, and reviewed for The Times Literary Supplement . Her philosophy was based on promoting love, peace and understanding through both learning and professionalism. Her heroes included Martin Luther King Jr. , Anne Frank , Nelson Mandela , and Winston Churchill . She frequently shared with her pupils various meaningful words or sayings which she called Winston words after Churchill, but which are not necessarily attributed to him. Ubuntu
357-517: A few years from 1956, after which it stood empty. In 1978 a campaign began with the goal to redevelop the building as a theatre. A public appeal was launched in 1981, and a festival of avant-garde theatre and music was held there and at other Islington venues in 1982. What has become the successful Almeida Theatre was founded. The Royal Agricultural Hall was built in 1862 on the Liverpool Road site of William Dixon's Cattle Layers. The hall
408-438: A long decline; and by the mid-20th century, it was largely run-down and a byword for urban poverty. The aerial bombing of World War II caused much damage to Islington's housing stock, with 3,200 dwellings destroyed. Before the war, a number of 1930s council housing blocks had been added to the stock. After the war, partly as a result of bomb site redevelopment, the council housing boom got into its stride, reaching its peak in
459-458: A public pond were shown lining the street. The Peacock Inn at 11 Islington High Street dates from 1564, although the current façade dates from 1857. It featured in Tom Brown's Schooldays as the inn at which Tom stays prior to travelling to Rugby School . It closed in 1962, although the building still stands. Angel tube station on Islington High Street has the longest escalator on
510-453: A theatre, has remained on the same site, opposite the parish church, since 1543. The founder of the theatre, Dan Crawford, who died in 2005, disagreed with the introduction of decimal coinage. For twenty-plus years after decimalisation (on 15 February 1971), the bar continued to show prices and charge for drinks in pre-decimalisation currency. By the 19th century many music halls and theatres were established around Islington Green . One such
561-670: Is a British actor, television presenter and former singer from London , who played Ricky Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (1988–2000, 2002–2004, 2008–2012, 2022–2023). He also appeared in the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing and made a cameo performance in the British cult show How Clean is Your House in 2005. Prior to his role in EastEnders , he had a role in the film Revolution in 1985, in which he appeared alongside Al Pacino and Donald Sutherland . In 1988, he
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#1732791135993612-554: Is an inner-city area of north London , England , within the wider London Borough of Islington . It is a mainly residential district of Inner London , extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy High Street, Upper Street , Essex Road (formerly "Lower Street"), and Southgate Road to the east. The manor of Islington was named by the Saxons Giseldone (1005), then Gislandune (1062). The name means "Gīsla's hill" from
663-461: Is in Barnsbury ) and Islington High Street / Upper Street . Other multiply listed streets include Arlington Square (one of the UK's top 10 garden squares) Camden Passage , Compton Terrace, Colebrooke Row, Cross Street, Duncan Terrace, Essex Road , Gibson Square and Milner Square. Other Grade II–listed structures include: Sid Owen Sid Owen (born David John Sutton ; 12 January 1972)
714-977: Is in Holloway . The area is served by numerous bus routes, with a major bus interchange located near the Angel tube station . Red route and residents' parking restrictions apply throughout the area. According to latest figures published by the Department for Education, there are 47 primary and 10 state-funded secondary schools in Islington. Grade II* English Heritage list three Grade II* listed buildings within Central Islington (and many more in surrounding districts): Grade II (selected): The area contains numerous Georgian townhouses, shops and pubs. Many whole terraces are listed including much of Liverpool Road (one side of which
765-538: Is my favourite Winston word – it means community care, collectiveness. I love that word. It was Archbishop Desmond Tutu who taught it to me. Scher married Raymond Charles Verrall, an English coach, writer and stage director, in Hampstead, London, in 1976. He was co-director of the Anna Scher Theatre for many years and co-authored several of Scher's books on acting. Their only child, John Benedict Verrall,
816-445: Is nearly always the mother of invention, and because 70 turned up and because a lot weren't too hot at reading, improvisation fell into place. In 2000, Scher suffered ill health through depression and stepped down during her recovery period. 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,
867-652: The London Underground system, at 318 steps. In 2006 a Norwegian man made headlines after skiing down the escalator at the station. Upper Street is Islington's main shopping street. The parish church, St Mary's , is located on Upper Street. The Angel business improvement district (BID), is an area centred on the Angel tube station , and which includes parts of southern Islington and neighbouring Clerkenwell . Islington features extensively in modern English literature and culture: There are over 60 sports and other types of physical activity on offer to
918-417: The 14th century, connecting with a new turnpike (toll road) up Highgate Hill . This was along the line of modern Upper Street, with a toll gate at The Angel defining the extent of the village. The Back Road , the modern Liverpool Road , was primarily a drovers' road where cattle would be rested before the final leg of their journey to Smithfield . Pens and sheds were erected along this road to accommodate
969-684: The 17th century these traditional sources were inadequate to supply the growing population and plans were laid to construct a waterway, the New River , to bring fresh water from the source of the River Lea , in Hertfordshire to New River Head , below Islington in Finsbury . The river was opened on 29 September 1613 by Sir Hugh Myddelton , the constructor of the project. His statue still stands where Upper Street meets Essex Road. The course of
1020-626: The 1960s: several extensive estates were constructed, by both the Metropolitan Borough of Islington and the London County Council . Clearance of the worst terraced housing was undertaken, but Islington continued to be very densely populated, with a high level of overcrowding. The district has many council blocks, and the local authority has begun to replace some of them. From the 1960s, the remaining Georgian terraces were rediscovered by middle-class families. Many of
1071-899: The Anna Scher Theatre has been teaching from the St Silas Church in Islington and classes are run twice a week. Anna Scher stepped down as a teacher in 2020, and since then classes have been run by former student, and actor, Dickon Tolson. Alumni include: Henry Paker , Pauline Quirke , Linda Robson , Kathy Burke , Phil Daniels , James Alexandrou and Natalie Cassidy . Other alumni from EastEnders include: Gary Hailes, Martin Kemp , Gillian Taylforth , Patsy Palmer , Sid Owen , Jake Wood , Susan Tully , Tilly Vosburgh , Brooke Kinsella and Tameka Empson . Other alumni include: Adam Deacon , Zawe Ashton , Reggie Yates , and Daniel Kaluuya , Ricardo P Lloyd . Islington Islington ( / ˈ ɪ z l ɪ ŋ t ən / IZ -ling-tən )
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#17327911359931122-594: The Business Design Centre. Some early development took place to accommodate the popularity of the nearby Sadler's Wells, which became a resort in the 16th century, but the 19th century saw the greatest expansion in housing, soon to cover the whole parish. In 1801, the population was 10,212, but by 1891 this had increased to 319,143. This rapid expansion was partly due to the introduction of horse-drawn omnibuses in 1830. Large well-built houses and fashionable squares drew clerks, artisans and professionals to
1173-515: The City and Westminster, made it a popular residence for the rich and eminent. The local inns harboured many fugitives and sheltered recusants. The hill on which Islington stands has long supplied the City of London with water, the first projects drawing water through wooden pipes from the many springs that lay at its foot, in Finsbury . These included Sadler's Wells , London Spa and Clerkenwell . By
1224-621: The Hackney districts of De Beauvoir and Old Street to the north east. Islington is the most densely populated borough in the UK according to the 2011 census, with a population density of 138.7 people per hectare, compared to an average of 52.0 for London. The urbanisation of Islington began with ribbon development along the Great North Road (the modern A1 ). which is known (south to north) as Islington High Street , Upper Street , Holloway Road and Archway Road as it passes through
1275-498: The Old English personal name Gīsla and dun ("hill", " down "). The name later mutated to Isledon , which remained in use well into the 17th century when the modern form arose. The manor, which was served by the ancient parish of Islington, later sub-divided, with new estates such as Neweton Berewe , Bernersbury , Hey-bury and Canonesbury – names first recorded in the 13th and 14th centuries) co-existing with
1326-522: The Seven Dwarfs from December 2007 to January 2008 at The Beck Theatre, Hayes, Middlesex as Prince Charming. He also presented series 8 of To Buy or Not to Buy with Melinda Messenger . In January 2012, Owen once again left EastEnders after four years back in the role. He returned for a few weeks in June 2012, before leaving again to run a restaurant in France On 10 September 2012, it
1377-462: The age of 78. Her husband had predeceased her by one month, dying in October 2023 at age 79. In 1968, Scher started an extracurricular performing arts school at Islington's Ecclesbourne Primary School. 70 pupils came the first week, including future Birds of a Feather stars Pauline Quirke (aged 9), Linda Robson (aged 10) and Ray Burdis (aged 11). In 1970, the classes moved across the road to
1428-523: The animals. The first recorded church, St Mary's , was erected in the twelfth century and was replaced in the fifteenth century. Islington lay on the estates of the Bishop of London and the Dean and Chapter of St Pauls . There were substantial medieval moated manor houses in the area, principally at Canonbury and Highbury. In 1548, there were 440 communicants listed and the rural atmosphere, with access to
1479-519: The announcement that Patsy Palmer , his on-screen wife, was also returning to the show. In February 2011 he announced that he was taking a break from the show. Of his decision Owen said, "I will be taking a break from EastEnders so that I can dedicate more time to Drop 4 Drop, a charity to help alleviate the global water crisis in the developing world. Ricky will definitely be returning to Walford at some point next year." He appeared in Snow White and
1530-465: The canal system. There is no tow-path in the tunnel so bargees had to walk their barges through, braced against the roof. Commercial use of the canal has declined since the 1960s. In the 17th and 18th centuries the availability of water made Islington a good place for growing vegetables to feed London. The manor became a popular excursion destination for Londoners, attracted to the area by its rural feel. Many public houses were therefore built to serve
1581-414: The conditions for developers to renovate many of the early Victorian and Georgian townhouses. They also built new developments. Islington remains a district with diverse inhabitants, with its private houses and apartments not far from social housing in immediately neighbouring wards such as Finsbury and Clerkenwell to the south, Bloomsbury and King's Cross to the west, and Highbury to the north west, and also
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1632-430: The district. However, from the middle of the 19th century the poor were being displaced by clearances in inner London to build the new railway stations and goods yards. Many of the displaced settled in Islington, with the houses becoming occupied by many families. This, combined with the railways pushing into outer Middlesex, reduced Islington's attraction for the "better off" as it became "unfashionable". The area fell into
1683-426: The district. In 1716 the Great North Road came under the control of the newly formed Islington Turnpike Trust. The Trust grew rapidly, and soon had control of most major roads in the area, building a number of major road arteries through the expanding residential areas, including Caledonian Road , Euston Road , City Road and New North Road . Islington High Street runs approximately 500 metres (0.31 mi) from
1734-459: The houses were rehabilitated, and the area became newly fashionable. This displacement of the poor by the aspirational has become known as gentrification . Among the new residents were a number of figures who became central in the New Labour movement, including Tony Blair before his victory in the 1997 general election . According to The Guardian in 2006, "Islington is widely regarded as
1785-432: The intersection of Pentonville Road and City Road at the south end to Islington Green at the north end, where it branches into Upper Street and Essex Road (former Lower Street). The earliest reference to Islington High Street is its appearance on a 1590 map of the area. At this time, nine inns (including the famous Angel , which has subsequently given its name to the area around High Street), as well as housing and
1836-465: The needs of both the excursionists and travellers on the turnpike. By 1716, there were 56 ale-house keepers in Upper Street, also offering pleasure and tea gardens, and activities such as archery, skittle alleys and bowling. By the 18th century, music and dancing were offered, together with billiards, firework displays and balloon ascents. The King's Head Tavern , now a Victorian building with
1887-510: The other. The area of the canal east of the tunnel and north of the City Road was once dominated by much warehousing and industry surrounding the large City Road Basin and Wenlock Basin. Those old buildings that survive here are now largely residential or small creative work units. This stretch has an old double-fronted pub The Narrowboat , one side accessed from the towpath. The canal was constructed in 1820 to carry cargo from Limehouse into
1938-483: The public in Islington, at more than approximately one hundred clubs, leisure centres , parks, community centres , and other venues. The Islington Boxing Club, on Hazellville Road, was founded in January 1974 and was originally based in the community hall of York Way Court, close to King's Cross Station . The borough is home to top-flight professional football club Arsenal , whose sixty-thousand capacity stadium
1989-493: The river ran to the east of Upper Street, and much of its course is now covered and forms a linear park through the area. The Regent's Canal passes through Islington, for much of which in an 886-metre (2,907 ft) tunnel that runs from Colebrook Row east of the Angel, to emerge at Muriel Street near Caledonian Road. The stretch is marked above with a series of pavement plaques so walkers may find their way from one entrance to
2040-438: The rump of the manor of Islington. The ancient parish of Islington continued to serve the rump manor of Islington and also the various manors that had broken away from it. Some roads on the edge of the area, including Essex Road , were known as streets by the medieval period, possibly indicating a Roman origin, but little physical evidence remains. What is known is that the Great North Road from Aldersgate came into use in
2091-404: The show as a regular later in the year and was axed in 2004 due to lack of storylines. Returning to television work, Owen appeared on an episode of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank in 2001, and took part in the fifth series of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! in 2005, where he carried out the first bushtucker trial with David Dickinson . He finished third in the series. He also took part in
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2142-467: The spiritual home of Britain's left-wing intelligentsia." The Granita Pact between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair is said to have been made at a now defunct restaurant on Upper Street. The African National Congress 's headquarters in exile was based on Penton Street. It was the target of a bomb attack in 1982 . The completion of the Victoria line and redevelopment of Angel tube station created
2193-483: The storyline or go back for a length of time." In August 2022, it was confirmed that he would reprise his role as Ricky for a brief stint. Owen participated in 2023 in the Channel 4 reality simulation of jail life Banged Up , saying that "he's the first member of his family not to go to jail for real, so he's keen to see what it's like." Owen has four brothers, his father David was an alcoholic who left home when he
2244-578: Was Collins's Music Hall , the remains of which are now partly incorporated into a bookshop. The remainder of the Hall has been redeveloped into a new theatre, with its entrance at the bottom of Essex Road . It stood on the site of the Landsdowne Tavern, where the landlord had built an entertainment room for customers who wanted to sing (and later for professional entertainers). It was founded in 1862 by Samuel Thomas Collins Vagg and by 1897 had become
2295-696: Was 75 ft high and the arched glass roof spanned 125 ft. It was built for the annual Smithfield Show in December of that year but was popular for other purposes, including recitals and the Royal Tournament . It was the primary exhibition site for London until the 20th century and the largest building of its kind, holding up to 50,000 people. It was requisitioned for use by the Mount Pleasant sorting office during World War II and never re-opened. The main hall has now been incorporated into
2346-513: Was announced that Owen would be a contestant for the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing . He was partnered with Ola Jordan . He and Jordan were the third couple to be eliminated, losing out in the dance-off against Colin Salmon . Owen took part in the 2016 series of The Jump on Channel 4. In 2016, Owen signed a contract with the BBC and opined that he should return to EastEnders to "finish
2397-744: Was born in 1980. Scher was 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 . As an actress, she appeared in The Battle of St. George Without (1969), You Must Be Joking! (1974), and Anna (2011). Since founding the school in 1968, Scher was awarded: Anna Scher died on 12 November 2023, at
2448-435: Was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Ricky Butcher , son of character Frank Butcher . His character's relationships with Sam Mitchell ( Danniella Westbrook ) and Bianca Jackson ( Patsy Palmer ) became popular in the 1990s. He appeared regularly on the show until April 2000 when he decided to leave the show and tried his hand at pop music releasing his cover version of Michael Jackson 's 1972 song, " We've Got
2499-676: Was established in 1833 and first met in Mr. Edgeworth's Academy on Upper Street. Its goal was to spread knowledge through lectures, discussions, and experiments, politics and theology being forbidden. A building, the Literary and Scientific Institution, was erected in 1837 in Wellington (later Almeida) Street, designed by Roumieu and Gough in a stuccoed Grecian style. It included a library (containing 3,300 volumes in 1839), reading room, museum, laboratory, and lecture theatre seating 500. The subscription
2550-471: Was six years old; his mother, Joan, died from pancreatic cancer when he was eight. He then attended Anna Scher Theatre school. Sid's favourite hobby is football, playing in many celebrity matches in the process and is an Arsenal supporter. In 2000 to 2003, he was engaged to Carty Hubbard. In October 2006, he began a relationship with Genie in the House actress, Polly Parsons . In April 2012, Owen told
2601-568: Was two guineas a year. After the library was sold off in 1872, the building was sold or leased in 1874 to the Wellington Club , which occupied it until 1886. In 1885 the hall was used for concerts, balls, and public meetings. The Salvation Army bought the building in 1890, renamed it the Wellington Castle barracks, and remained there until 1955. The building became a factory and showroom for Beck's British Carnival Novelties for
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