Not currently on display at the V&A

Bernard Cribbins in Not Now Darling

Caricature
17 May 1968 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Bernard Cribbins (b.1928) as Arnold Crouch in Not Now Darling by Ray Cooney and John Chapman, at the Oxford New Theatre in May 1968. 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.

Bernard Cribbins started acting in Oldham aged 15 and went on to have his own revue in the West End and to be a popular presenter of 1970s television series Jackanory. He is well-known for his roles in the Carry On films of the 1960s, and as the station master Mr Perks in the 1970 film The Railway Children, and for his 1962 hit song ‘Right Said Fred’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBernard Cribbins in <i>Not Now Darling</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash on paper
Brief description
Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Bernard Cribbins in Not Now Darling at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 17 May 1968.
Physical description
Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature of Bernard Cribbins in Not Now Darling at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 17 May 1968. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.2cm (approximately)
  • Width: 18.7cm (approximately)
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn (with one exception) by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1965 and September 1971 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement.
Subject depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Bernard Cribbins (b.1928) as Arnold Crouch in Not Now Darling by Ray Cooney and John Chapman, at the Oxford New Theatre in May 1968. 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.

Bernard Cribbins started acting in Oldham aged 15 and went on to have his own revue in the West End and to be a popular presenter of 1970s television series Jackanory. He is well-known for his roles in the Carry On films of the 1960s, and as the station master Mr Perks in the 1970 film The Railway Children, and for his 1962 hit song ‘Right Said Fred’.
Collection
Accession number
S.134:24-2002

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Record createdNovember 20, 2003
Record URL
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