Ida Schuster

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

Career Ida's older sister, Ray, married 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.

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.” 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 (4-25 February 1951), her first major role, as part of The Festival of Jewish Arts at Glasgow's McLellan Galleries, which responded to, and coincided with, the Festival of Britain Blood Wedding (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 (1962-63 season): A Midsummer Night's Dream A Streetcar Named Desire The Good Woman of Setzuan (première of new translation by John Willett) Uncle Vanya Arms and the Man Saturmacnalia by Cliff Hanley Serjeant Musgrave's Dance The Importance of Being Earnest Henry IV by Luigi Pirandello The Partridge Dance by Ronald Mavor The Birthday Party The School for Scandal The Waltz of the Toreadors V Minus One by John Hubbard A Resounding Tinkle The Love of Four Colonels Strictly for the Birds (1966) Dr. Angelus (1974), Angelus in the Pitlochry Festival Theatre production 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 (1987-1990), Mrs. Culfeathers, acting alongside Elaine C. Smith, Dorothy Paul and Katy Murphy The House of Bernarda Alba (1989), Maria Josefa, at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh 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 [Eine Kleine Nachtmusik] 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 (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 (1993) Taggart (1990-2005, various characters) River City (2002), Lily Fraser