Ida Schuster (28 September 1918 – 9 April 2020) was a Scottish theatre, radio and television actress, theatre director, and a leading figure in Glasgow's 20th-century Jewish theatre community.

Early life and education

Schuster was born in Glasgow, one of nine children born to Jewish immigrants who moved from

Vilnius Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...

to Glasgow at the end of the 19th century. She attended Abbotsford Primary School in the

Gorbals The Gorbals is an area in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, and former burgh, on the south bank of the River Clyde. By the late 19th century, it had become densely populated; rural migrants and immigrants were attracted by the new industries and e ...

Career

Ida's older sister, Ray, marrie
Avrom Greenbaum
who founded the Glasgow Jewish Institute Players, and her brother, Leon Schuster, was production manager for GJIP, and, later, when it merged with other groups,

Glasgow Unity Theatre The Glasgow Unity Theatre was a theatre group that was formed in 1941, in Glasgow. The Unity theatre movement developed from workers' drama groups in the 1930s, seeing itself as using theatre to highlight the issues of the working class being prod ...

. Middleton, Heather (ed.) (2016) ''Women of the Gorbals Heritage Walk.'' (Glasgow: Glasgow Women's Library). p. 7. https://womenslibrary.org.uk/gwl_wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/GWL-Women-of-the-Gorbals-Heritage-Walk.pdf Ida began acting at the age of 15, and was a prominent member of both theatre troupes. Glasgow Unity Theatre, was, she said: “...a particular response to a particular time. These were heady days and after the war we really felt utopia had arrived.” She turned professional in the 1950s. In 1973, she described her feelings about the artist within the community:

Well...the bridge games, the social activities for charities which form so much of the pattern, must be partly rejected if one is to survive with any creative energy. And as one grows older, responsibilities increase and energy decreases. This happens to all of us and youth takes over. Make no mistake, our young folk will be holding the reins with great expertise, well equipped for the battles which lie ahead.

In 2020, Schuster was known as "the world's oldest podcaster", because she hosted ''Old School,'' an audio series about her life, introduced by actor

Alan Cumming Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and presenter. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. He re ...

Personal life

Ida was married to Dr. Allan Berkeley until his death in 1990, after 45 years of marriage. At the time of his death, she was appearing in ''The Steamie'' and had to leave the cast. The couple had two children, Howard and Peter. Schuster died on 9 April 2020, at the age of 101, from COVID-19.

Theatrical productions

* ''

The Dybbuk ''The Dybbuk'', or ''Between Two Worlds'' (, trans. ''Mezh dvukh mirov ibuk'; , ''Tsvishn Tsvey Veltn – der Dibuk'') is a play by S. An-sky, authored between 1913 and 1916. It was originally written in Russian and later translated into Yidd ...

'' (4-25 February 1951), her first major role, as part of The Festival of Jewish Arts at Glasgow's

McLellan Galleries The McLellan Galleries are a major exhibition space in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, situated behind a frontage of shops and offices in Sauchiehall Street. History As part of the city's expansion on Blythswood Hill spearheaded by William H ...

, which responded to, and coincided with, the

Festival of Britain The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition and fair that reached millions of visitors throughout the United Kingdom in the summer of 1951. Labour Party cabinet member Herbert Morrison was the prime mover; in 1947 he started with the ...

* ''

Blood Wedding ''Blood Wedding'' () is a tragedy by Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. It was written in 1932 and first performed at Teatro Beatriz in Madrid in March 1933, then later that year in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The play is set in rural Spa ...

'' (18-29 November 1952), a GJIP production, with Schuster playing the role of The Mother * ''Morning Star'' (1959)m GJIP's revival of the Sylvia Regan play * Various productions as part of the

Citizens' Theatre The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and playwright in residence Paul Vincent Carroll is based in Glasgow, Scotland, as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat ...

(1962-63 season): ** ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...

'' ** ''

A Streetcar Named Desire ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a play written by Tennessee Williams and first performed on Broadway on December 3, 1947. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of pe ...

'' ** ''

The Good Woman of Setzuan ''The Good Person of Szechwan'' (, first translated less literally as ''The Good Man of Setzuan'') is a play written by the German dramatist Bertolt Brecht, in collaboration with Margarete Steffin and Ruth Berlau. The play was begun in 1938 but no ...

'' (première of new translation by

John Willett John William Mills Willett, MBE (24 June 1917 – 20 August 2002) was a British translator and scholar, who is remembered for translating the work of Bertolt Brecht into English. Early life Willett was born in Hampstead and was educated ...

) ** ''

Uncle Vanya ''Uncle Vanya'' ( rus, Дя́дя Ва́ня, r=Dyádya Ványa, p=ˈdʲædʲə ˈvanʲə) is a play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first published in 1897, and first produced in 1899 by the Moscow Art Theatre, directed by Konstan ...

'' ** ''

Arms and the Man ''Arms and the Man'' is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw, whose title comes from the opening words of Virgil's ''Aeneid'', in Latin: ''Arma virumque cano'' ("Of arms and the man I sing"). The play was first produced on 21 April 1894 at the Av ...

'' ** ''Saturmacnalia'' by

Cliff Hanley Clifford Leonard Clark "Cliff" Hanley (28 October 1922 – 9 August 1999) was a journalist, novelist, playwright and broadcaster from Glasgow in Scotland. Originally from Shettleston in the city's East End, he was educated at Eastbank Acad ...

** ''

Serjeant Musgrave's Dance ''Serjeant Musgrave's Dance, An Un-historical Parable'' is a play by English playwright John Arden, written in 1959 and premiered at the Royal Court Theatre on October 22 of that year. In Arden's introductory note to the text, he describes it a ...

'' ** ''

The Importance of Being Earnest ''The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People'' is a play by Oscar Wilde, the last of his four drawing-room plays, following ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' (1892), ''A Woman of No Importance'' (1893) and ''An Ideal Husban ...

'' ** ''Henry IV'' by

Luigi Pirandello Luigi Pirandello (; ; 28 June 1867 – 10 December 1936) was an Italians, Italian dramatist, novelist, poet, and short story writer whose greatest contributions were his plays. He was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his bold and ...

** ''The Partridge Dance'' by Ronald Mavor ** '' The Birthday Party'' ** ''

The School for Scandal ''The School for Scandal'' is a comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1777. Plot Act I Scene I: Lady Sneerwell, a wealthy young widow, and her hireling S ...

'' ** ''

The Waltz of the Toreadors ''The Waltz of the Toreadors'' (''La Valse des toréadors'') is a 1951 play by Jean Anouilh. Plot This bitter farce is set in 1910 France and focuses on General Léon Saint-Pé and his infatuation with Ghislaine, a woman with whom he danced at a g ...

'' ** ''V Minus One'' by John Hubbard ** '' A Resounding Tinkle'' ** ''

The Love of Four Colonels ''The Love of Four Colonels'' is a play by the British writer Peter Ustinov, first performed in 1951. It is a fantasy set around military officers from the four Allied Occupation Powers (American, British, French and Soviet) of postwar Germany. ...

'' * '' Strictly for the Birds'' (1966) * ''Dr. Angelus'' (1974), Angelus in the Pitlochry Festival Theatre production * ''Blithe Spirit'' (1974), Madame Arcati in the Pitlochry Festival Theatre production * ''Here for a father'' (1974), Medea in the Pitlochry Festival Theatre production * '' Personal Effects'' (1974), Miss Anders in the Pitlochry Festival Theatre production * ''The Slab Boys'' (premiered at the Traverse Theatre, 6 April 1978) Sadie, the tea lady * ''Country Life'' (1979), noted for a strong performance of a "painted widow desperate for affection" * '' Mary Stuart'' (1985), Hannah, at the Glasgow Citizen's Theatre * ''Lucy's Play'' (1986), noted for portraying a "delightfully wearisome mother" * ''

The Steamie ''The Steamie'' is a comedy-drama stage play, written by Tony Roper. It is set on Hogmanay 1950 and provides a window on the lives and aspirations of a group of Glasgow women washing their clothes in a public washhouse (steamie). It was commis ...

'' (1987-1990), Mrs. Culfeathers, acting alongside Elaine C. Smith,

Dorothy Paul Dorothy Paul (born 1937 as Dorothy Pollock) is a Scottish stage and screen actress, comedian, and entertainer. She performed onstage often at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow. Acting career Originating from the Dennistoun area of Glasgow, she ...

and

Katy Murphy Katy Murphy (born 8 December 1962) is a British actress and teacher from Glasgow, Scotland, who has appeared in many television programs, most of them for the BBC and ITV. While most associated with television drama, she has worked across a vari ...

* ''

The House of Bernarda Alba ''The House of Bernarda Alba'' () is a play (theatre), play by the Spain, Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. Commentators have often grouped it with ''Blood Wedding (play), Blood Wedding'' and ''Yerma'' as the Rural Trilogy. García Lorc ...

'' (1989), Maria Josefa, at the

Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh The Royal Lyceum Theatre is a 658-seat theatre in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, named after the Theatre Royal Lyceum and English Opera House, the residence at the time of legendary Shakespearean actor Henry Irving. It was built in 1883 by a ...

* ''Daughters in Distress'' (1989), noted for a "tender, funny and uncommonly moving study" * ''Musical Chairs'' (1993), noted as "worth an award in itself"

As director

Amongst her work as a theatre director was the inaugural production (opening 12 May 1981) of ''Eine Kleine Nachmutze ine Kleine Nachtmusik' at the

Tron Theatre The Tron Theatre is located in Glasgow, Scotland. The theatre was formerly known as the Tron Kirk. It began as the Collegiate Church of Our Lady and St. Anne. The Tron Theatre building is home to the Tron Theatre Company and serves as a prod ...

Selected filmography

* ''Death Watch (La mort en direct'') (1980, actress, Old Woman) * ''Passing Glory'' (1987),

Gillies MacKinnon Gillies MacKinnon (born 8 January 1948) is a Scotland, Scottish film director, screenplay, writer and painting, painter. He was born in Glasgow and attended the Glasgow School of Art where he studied mural painting. Following this he became an a ...

's NFTS graduation film, also starring Fiona Chalmers and

* ''A Short History of the Glasgow Jewish Institute Players'' (1996 documentary, writer and producer) * '' A Shot at Glory'' (2000, actress, Wee Brenda)

Television appearances

* ''One's Company'' (1974), co-starred with Robert Urquhart and Leena Skoog, broadcast on BBC Scotland * ''

Garnock Way ''Garnock Way'' was a short-lived Scottish soap opera, produced by Scottish Television for the ITV network, running from 1976 to 1979. It was replaced by ''Take the High Road'' which also featured actors Eileen McCallum, Bill Henderson, Paul ...

'' (1976-1979), Carla the café owner * '' The Dunroamin' Rising'' (1988)a play by Colin MacDonald * '' And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon'' (1991) a play by Donna Franceschild broadcast on BBC1 * ''

Doctor Finlay ''Doctor Finlay'' is a British television series based on A. J. Cronin's stories about the fictional medical hero, Dr. Finlay. It was first broadcast on 5 March 1993 on ITV. It is a follow-up to ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'', the successful BBC ...

'' (1993) * ''

Taggart ''Taggart'' is a Scottish detective fiction television programme created by Glenn Chandler, who wrote many of the episodes, and made by STV Studios for the ITV network. It originally ran as the miniseries ''Killer'' from 6 until 20 Septe ...

'' (1990-2005, various characters) * ''

River City ''River City'' is a Scottish television soap opera created by Stephen Greenhorn which has been broadcast on BBC One Scotland since September 2002. Since 2019, the show has aired episodes a day earlier on the new BBC Scotland channel. Set in ...

'' (2002), Lily Fraser

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Schuster, Ida 1918 births 2020 deaths Actresses from Glasgow Scottish stage actresses Scottish film actresses Scottish women centenarians Scottish Jews 20th-century Scottish actresses 21st-century Scottish actresses Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland Jewish centenarians