{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O87008"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87008/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9301/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9301/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9301","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O87008","accessionNumber":"S.131:59-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Sydney Fairbrother as Lady Atkyns","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Sydney Fairbrother (1872-1941) as Lady Atkyns in <i>He Was Born Gay</i> 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.\r\n\r\nSydney Fairbrother made her first stage appearance at Birmingham in 1890 in <i>The Squire</i> 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 <i>Op 'o me Thumb</i> at the St. James's Theatre. She became a great success with Fred Emney in the music hall sketch <i>A Sister To Assist 'Er</i>, 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 <i>A Sister To Assist 'Er</i> and <i>Brewster's Millions</i>.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Sydney Fairbrother as Lady Atkyns, New Theatre, Oxford, 21 May 1937. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sommerlad, Gilbert","id":"A5980"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK9301"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356599"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Oxford","id":"x31203"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"21 May 1937","earliest":"1937-05-21","latest":"1937-05-21"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"13.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Sydney Fairbrother as Lady Atkyns in <i>He Was Born Gay</i> by Emlyn Williams, New Theatre Oxford, 21 May 1937.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Fairbrother, Sydney","id":"N3317"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:59-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-10","availableToBook":true}}