Not currently on display at the V&A

Cathleen Nesbitt, John Cromwell, Marjorie Steele, Zena Dare and Ron Randell in Sabrina Fair

Caricature
31 July 1954 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Cathleen Nesbitt (1888-1982), John Cromwell (1888-1979), Marjorie Steele (b.1930), Zena Dare (1887-1975) and Ron Randell (1918-2005) in Sabrina Fair at the Oxford New Theatre on 31 July 1954. 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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCathleen Nesbitt, John Cromwell, Marjorie Steele, Zena Dare and Ron Randell in <i>Sabrina Fair</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil on paper
Brief description
Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Cathleen Nesbitt, John Cromwell, Marjorie Steele, Zena Dare and Ron Randell in Sabrina Fair, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 31 July 1954.
Physical description
Pencil caricature of Cathleen Nesbitt, John Cromwell, Marjorie Steele, Zena Dare and Ron Randell in Sabrina Fair, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 31 July 1954. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 22.8cm
  • Width: 17.3cm
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 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.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Cathleen Nesbitt (1888-1982), John Cromwell (1888-1979), Marjorie Steele (b.1930), Zena Dare (1887-1975) and Ron Randell (1918-2005) in Sabrina Fair at the Oxford New Theatre on 31 July 1954. 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.
Collection
Accession number
S.132:36-2002

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Record createdDecember 3, 2003
Record URL
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