Russell's International Circus calls time on printed posters

Russell's International Circus, from Downham Market, has said it would focus on other forms of advertising for this year’s season rather than relying on posters.

A poster for this year's Russells Circus - but you won't see this on any printed advertising board (Image: Russells International Circus)

Rusty Russell, circus director, said the decision was prompted by soaring printing costs and the environment. 

Performers in this year's Russells International Circus (Image: Russells International Circus)

Mr Russell said: “We have taken the big step to abandon all printed posters in 2023 in an effort to become more eco-friendly and also cut down on our running costs and use this saved money to invest into the quality of our performance.”

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The UK’s first ‘modern’ circus is thought to have taken place in 1768, and posters promoting their acrobats, clowns and stunt riders mounted on everything from horses to penny-farthings soon followed, adorning walls and A-boards far and wide. 

The poster for Pablo Fanque's Circus Royal from 1843 that inspired the Beatles' song Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (Image: Public Domain)

A circus poster even inspired the Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - John Lennon found one in an antique shop advertising Norwich’s Pablo Fanque’s 19th Century Circus Royal.

Mr Russell said the circus would now aim to make better use of radio, digital newsletters and electronic advertising screens. 

He said: "We shall also be having made a large quantity of re-useable advertising boards that we can display in each venue. 

A historic circus poster that was past of a display at Great Yarmouth's Time and Tide Museum (Image: Newsquest)

“We can take these down at the end of each week and take them with us to display at our next location. 

“This way all our advertising boards become re-useable for a full season.” 

Performers in this year's Russells International Circus (Image: Russells International Circus)

The circus’s 2023 tour kicks off at Cookies Car Boot Site in Sheringham on April 3, and will go onto Dereham, Hunstanton, Downham Market, Swaffham, Thetford, Great Yarmouth, Beccles, Diss and Stowmarket.