Pablo Fanque, the circus proprietor, was born in Norwich at the beginning of the 19th century. Who exactly was he and what made him special? How did he contribute to popular culture over three centuries and what's the connection with the Beatles? This talk will explore the origins of circus and the 'industrialisation' of this form of performance; the circus apprentice system; moral attitudes towards women and children performance in the circus; the role of prejudice, race and entrepreneurism within Victorian society. These are some of the questions and themes that Gareth Davies will be investigating in his talk.