Brenda Bruce in A Letter from Paris
Caricature
1 September 1952 (dated)
1 September 1952 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Brenda Bruce (1919-1996) as Francie Dosson in A Letter From Paris by Dodie Smith at the Oxford New Theatre in August 1952. 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.
Brenda Bruce moved from chorus girl to classical actress. She was a member of the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1936 for three years, after which she worked in theatre, notably for the Royal Shakespeare Company, in film and television. Her last performance was at the Donmar Warehouse in 1993.
Brenda Bruce moved from chorus girl to classical actress. She was a member of the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1936 for three years, after which she worked in theatre, notably for the Royal Shakespeare Company, in film and television. Her last performance was at the Donmar Warehouse in 1993.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Brenda Bruce in <i>A Letter from Paris</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Brenda Bruce in A Letter from Paris at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 1 September 1952. |
| Physical description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature of Brenda Bruce in A Letter from Paris at the Oxford New Theatre, 1 September 1952. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
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| 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. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Brenda Bruce (1919-1996) as Francie Dosson in A Letter From Paris by Dodie Smith at the Oxford New Theatre in August 1952. 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. Brenda Bruce moved from chorus girl to classical actress. She was a member of the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1936 for three years, after which she worked in theatre, notably for the Royal Shakespeare Company, in film and television. Her last performance was at the Donmar Warehouse in 1993. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.132:15-2002 |
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| Record created | November 28, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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