This caricature shows Sydney Fairbrother (1872-1941) as Lady Atkyns in He Was Born Gay by Emlyn Williams at the Oxford New Theatre on 21 May 1937. 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.

Sydney Fairbrother made her first stage appearance at Birmingham in 1890 in The Squire as a member of the Kendal company. She remained with the Kendals for two years, and toured to America with them. In 1895 she was engaged by Lewis Waller as an understudy at the Haymarket Theatre, and in 1902 was hailed as a new talent when she played Amanda in Op 'o me Thumb at the St. James's Theatre. She became a great success with Fred Emney in the music hall sketch A Sister To Assist 'Er, which they performed in 1912-1949, and went on to appear as a character actress in numerous productions in the West End and on tour. After 1915 she was also in several silent films including A Sister To Assist 'Er and Brewster's Millions.