Not currently on display at the V&A

Bertram Dench in It's a Girl

Caricature
11 April 1932 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Bertram Dench in It's a Girl at the Brighton Theatre Royal in 11 April 1932. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

It's a Girl!, a farce by Austin Melford, had opened in London at the Strand Theatre in January 1932 starring Leslie Henson and Austin Melford, but the cast changed for Brighton in April of that year.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBertram Dench in <i>It's a Girl</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil and ink on paper
Brief description
Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Bertram Dench in It's a Girl at the Brighton Theatre Royal. Dated 11 April 1932
Physical description
Pencil caricature of Bertram Dench in It's a Girl, dated 11 April 1932. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12.9cm
  • Width: 8.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Too good looking! Bertram Dench "It's a Girl!" 1932' (Pen and ink)
  • 'Gilbert Sommerlad' (Pen and ink)
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
Gilbert Sommerlad would have played as part of the resident orchestra at the Theatre Royal Brighton when he drew this caricature. had opened in London at the Strand Theatre in January 1932, starring Leslie Henson and Austin Melford.
Subject depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Bertram Dench in It's a Girl at the Brighton Theatre Royal in 11 April 1932. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

It's a Girl!, a farce by Austin Melford, had opened in London at the Strand Theatre in January 1932 starring Leslie Henson and Austin Melford, but the cast changed for Brighton in April of that year.
Collection
Accession number
S.129:11-2002

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Record createdNovember 7, 2003
Record URL
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