A south Norfolk arts venue has received a boost from the Fab Four following the opening of an exhibition of rarely seen photographs of The Beatles.

The images, which show John, Paul, George, and Ringo recording, touring, and performing in their early days and at the height of their fame, went on display at the Diss Corn Hall last night.

The Beatles Picture Show, which features the work of four photographers who had unprecedented access to the band, represents a coup for the venue, which has organised a series of art exhibitions in its box office building at the Old Stables.

The display includes images by some of the most renowned photographers of the 1960s, including Frank Hermann's images of the band recording Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at Abbey Road studios and photographs of the band playing at the Cavern in Liverpool, by Michael Ward.

The free exhibition will also include the work of Astrid Kirchherr, the girlfriend of Stuart Sutcliffe, the 'fifth Beatle' – who photographed the band during their early days in Hamburg, and images from Paul Saltzman during the band's visit to see the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India.

David Case, of the Diss Corn Hall Trust, said the 25 images would give visitors a different insight into the life of The Beatles.

'They were people that happened to be there and were hanging out with The Beatles. They are fairly informal and more personal, particularly the recording studio shots of them relaxing between takes,' he said.

The exhibition at the Corn Hall, off St Nicholas Street, Diss, will run until Saturday, March 26.