Pencil caricature of Charles Tovey by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) conducting a performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, at the New Theatre Oxford, dated Christmas 1962-3.

Pencil caricature of Charles Tovey conducting a performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, dated Christmas 1962/1963, 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.

Charles Tovey was the conductor of the orchestra for this production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears which starred Peter Butterworth, Harry Worth and Jacqueline Moran, and opened at the New Theatre Oxford as the Christmas pantomime, 26 December 1962.

This caricature shows Charles Tovey conducting a performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Oxford New Theatre, Christmas 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.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Norman R. Hope was the Christmas pantomime at the New Theatre. It opened for a season from 26 December 1962, starring Peter Butterworth as Madame Rose Ringler and Harry Worth as Professor Ringler, both of whom were well-known through appearances on television comedy programmes.

S.130:48-2002