Eric Sykes in Big Bad Mouse
Caricature
3 September 1966 (dated)
3 September 1966 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Eric Sykes (b.1923) as Mr. Bloome in Big Bad Mouse by Philip King and Falkland Carey, at the Oxford New Theatre in September 1966. 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.
After wartime service in World War II in a Royal Air Force Special Liaison Unit, Eric Sykes worked as a BBC scriptwriter in the 1950s, writing for shows including Variety Bandbox and Educating Archie and for his own show Sykes in which he starred with Hattie Jacques. His film appearances include Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) with Terry-Thomas, Tony Hancock, Robert Morley, and Dame Flora Robson, and The Others (2001) with Nicole Kidman. In December 2004 Eric Sykes was honoured with a CBE for services to Drama.
After wartime service in World War II in a Royal Air Force Special Liaison Unit, Eric Sykes worked as a BBC scriptwriter in the 1950s, writing for shows including Variety Bandbox and Educating Archie and for his own show Sykes in which he starred with Hattie Jacques. His film appearances include Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) with Terry-Thomas, Tony Hancock, Robert Morley, and Dame Flora Robson, and The Others (2001) with Nicole Kidman. In December 2004 Eric Sykes was honoured with a CBE for services to Drama.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Eric Sykes in <i>Big Bad Mouse</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Eric Sykes in Big Bad Mouse at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 3 September 1966. |
| Physical description | Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature of Eric Sykes in Big Bad Mouse at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 3 September 1966. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn (with one exception) by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1965 and September 1971 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 Eric Sykes (b.1923) as Mr. Bloome in Big Bad Mouse by Philip King and Falkland Carey, at the Oxford New Theatre in September 1966. 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. After wartime service in World War II in a Royal Air Force Special Liaison Unit, Eric Sykes worked as a BBC scriptwriter in the 1950s, writing for shows including Variety Bandbox and Educating Archie and for his own show Sykes in which he starred with Hattie Jacques. His film appearances include Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) with Terry-Thomas, Tony Hancock, Robert Morley, and Dame Flora Robson, and The Others (2001) with Nicole Kidman. In December 2004 Eric Sykes was honoured with a CBE for services to Drama. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.134:4-2002 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | November 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
