Not currently on display at the V&A

Alan Badel as Hero in The Rehearsal

Caricature
30 March 1962 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAlan Badel as Hero in <i>The Rehearsal</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature on paper of Alan Badel as Hero in The Rehearsal at the New Theatre Oxford, by Gilbert Sommerlad, 30 March 1962.
Physical description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Alan Badel as Hero in The Rehearsal at the New Theatre Oxford. Dated 30 March 1962. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25cm
  • Width: 17.6cm
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 October 1957 and October 1965 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 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.
Collection
Accession number
S.133:36-2002

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Record createdDecember 9, 2003
Record URL
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