It was 57 years ago today…

January 31, 2024

A historic moment in Beatles’ history occurred 57 years ago today, when John Lennon wandered into an antique shop in Sevenoaks, Kent during the filming of the music video for ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. Inside the shop, Lennon’s eye was drawn to an antique circus poster from 1843.

The poster detailed the line-up of fascinating circus acts that would be performed at Pablo Fanque’s Circus Royal. Charmed by the eccentric antique object, Lennon bought the print, and hung it in his music room. Here, the poster became a tangible muse for Lennon. During the writing of Sgt. Pepper, Lennon and McCartney became inspired by the poster. The result of this writing session was ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!’.

This song stands out as a kaleidoscopic masterpiece of sound and imagination. Behind the swirling circus of sounds and vivid imagery lies an intriguing story of serendipity and artistic inspiration. Lennon and McCartney's ability to turn a chance encounter with a 19th-century circus poster into a timeless song is a reminder that creativity knows no bounds and that sometimes, the most enchanting art is born from the unlikeliest of sources.

We were so inspired by the story behind ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!’, that we set out to recreate the original Victorian circus poster in meticulous detail. You can buy yourself a copy of the limited edition Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite print here, and also watch a short film that documents the creation of our poster.