Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Reginald Swinney conducting Glamorous Nights - on Ice at the Oxford New Theatre, dated May 1956

Pencil caricature of Reginald Swinney conducting Glamorous Nights - on Ice, dated May 1956, 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.

This caricature shows Reginald Swinney conducting a performance of Glamorous Night on Ice at the Oxford New Theatre in May 1956. 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.

Glamorous Night on Ice was the ice dance version of Ivor Novello's hit musical Glamorous Night which was a huge success when originally produced at Drury Lane Theatre in May 1935. It toured in 1956 when it also visited the Theatre Royal Nottingham and the Empire Theatre Liverpool.

S.130:37-2002