Top drama boss threatened

The chairman of drama school the Anna Scher Theatre has resigned after receiving what he claims are "offensive and abusive personal threats".

Stephen Dawson has been at the centre of an acrimonious row over the future of the community theatre in Islington, which has trained actors such as Linda Robson, Ross Kemp and Pauline Quirk.

When Anna Scher, the peace campaigner and founder of the theatre, succumbed to depressive illness in 1999 she ceded control of her theatre to its board, headed by Mr Dawson.

But much to the fury of her hundreds of supporters, Ms Scher, who recovered two years ago, has since been blocked from resuming her old job.

Birds Of A Feather actress Linda Robson said: "I am shocked how the trustees have humiliated her and refused to take her back. It is her theatre. How dare they take it away from her?"

As well as Ms Scher's many peaceful supporters, however, it appears she has also attracted the backing of more aggressive "friends".

Threats and verbal abuse have reportedly been hurled at Mr Dawson in the street. On one internet bulletin board dedicated to the future of the theatre an anonymous poster threatened "future direct action" against Mr Dawson.

The writer added: "Unlike Anna Scher, I am not such a pacifist - I play real dirty. You wanna play with me Dawson we'll come down to your residence giving you early morning calls with a fog horn."

The campaign group Friends of Anna Scher, which has lobbied for her reinstatement as principal, last night distanced itself from any of the threats.

"We neither take responsibility for, nor condone, personal abuse or threats made on the internet or anywhere else," said Catherine Clarke of the Friends of Anna Scher committee.