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Alan Badel as Hero in The Rehearsal
Sommerlad, Gilbert, born 1904 - died 1976 - Enlarge image
Alan Badel as Hero in The Rehearsal
- Object:
Caricature
- Place of origin:
Oxford, England (made)
- Date:
30 March 1962 (dated)
- Artist/Maker:
Sommerlad, Gilbert, born 1904 - died 1976 (artist)
- Materials and Techniques:
Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper
- Credit Line:
Given by Michael Sommerlad
- Museum number:
S.133:36-2002
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This caricature shows Alan Badel (1923-1982) as Hero in The Rehearsal by Jean Anouilh at the Oxford New Theatre in March 1962. 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.
Alan Badel made his first appearance at the Oxford Repertory Theatre in 1940, and his West End debut in 1941. He starred in Hamlet at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1956 and as Wagner in the 1956 film Magic Fire.

