Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Danny Walters conducting a performance of Kiss Me Kate at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 19 August 1952

Pencil caricature of the conductor Danny Walters conducting a performance of Kiss Me Kate, dated 19 August 1952, part of an artist's hard-backed sketch book manufactured by George Rowney & Co., called 'The Euston Sketch Book'. The pencilled sketch is drawn directly onto the page (cream cartridge paper). Titled and dated by the artist and signed by the subject.

Given by Michael Sommerlad

The artist of these caricatures, Gilbert Sommerlad, was by profession a musician who was born into a family that had a long tradition of professional musicians. In 1936 he moved to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist.

Gilbert was an exceptionally good and popular rehearsal pianist, and visiting companies and individual performers used to make sure that he would be available. He became well-known in the profession and his ability as a caricaturist became common knowledge. The volume that includes this drawing contains sketches mostly of musical directors and conductors working at the Oxford New Theatre with Gilbert Sommerlad.

This caricature shows Danny Walters conducting a performance of Kiss Me Kate at the Oxford New Theatre on 19 August 1952. 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.

The Cole Porter musical Kiss Me Kate opened at the Coliseum Theatre in March 1951, and after a successful London run embarked on a provincial tour which visited Oxford in August 1952. Kiss Me Kate was filmed by MGM in 1953.

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