For the benefit of Mr Kite
SGT. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released by the Beatles in May 1967 and lauded by critics for its innovations in production, song-writing and graphic design; winning four Grammy Awards in 1968, including Album of the Year, the first rock LP to receive this honour.
John Lennon’s Being For the Benefit of Mr Kite shows how the Beatles and George Martin were using the studio as an instrument.
The middle eight bars include numerous recordings of fairground organs and calliope spliced together.
In 1980, Lennon commented that the song was ‘pure, like a painting, a pure watercolour.’
Earlier this year, Rochdale’s Skylight Circus Arts was awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to research the history of circus in Rochdale.
During this research they discovered that Mr Kite, a tight wire walker and head-balancing act, had inspired John Lennon to write the song when he came across a poster from 1843 advertising Mr Kite’s performance in Pablo Fanque’s show at Town Meadows, Rochdale!
In celebration of 250 years of circus and following further research and collection of stories, memories and images, Skylight’s Youth Circus, Silver Circus and Adult Aerial groups have joined together to create the show Mr Kite A Phantasmagorical Circus Extravaganza!
Visiting Director Grania Pickard said: “This is essentially a once in a lifetime opportunity, a chance as a circus director to create a show about circus, using circus, set in a circus celebrating 250 years of circus.
“How could I ever say no? There have been field trips to circus archives, research days where we created characters/scenes based on the people we read about, and everything you will see from the elephant parade to the Charivari (the finale scene where everyone is on stage) is steeped in Rochdale’s circus history.
“Also, where would any of us be without Skylight and its own rich history?
“The joy, exuberance, integrity and skill in this show are a testament to how much Skylight Circus Arts has shared its love of circus and opened its doors to all.”
Mr Kite will feature: The Mesmerising Juggling Mime Twins, Strong Woman Yugoslavavic, Astounding Acrobatic Performers, Misses Lay Lay, Lulu and Linda – the Trapeze Family and ‘the legend‘ Jimmy the Clown.
The Skylights Circus Arts presents Mr Kite show will be held at the Skylight Circus Arts Studio, St Chad’s Fold, Sparrow Hill, Rochdale on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15 at 2pm and 7pm.
To find our more about this circus extravaganza and to book your tickets visit www. ticketsource.co.uk/ skylightcircusarts.