Kynren – an epic journey through the history of England

Kynren is the spectacular story of the history of England, it guides audiences through the past 2000 years of the most significant historical events that shaped our country with its 90-minute outdoor spectacular show.  With 29 dramatic scenes, the story of England is brought to life right in front of your eyes.

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This epic experience is made possible by 1000 volunteers, participating as actors known as Archers. The staff and crew return year after year, creating a strong sense of pride and community. The name itself, “Kynren”, is of Anglo-Saxon origin and means “generation”.

Viking influences

We took a walk around the Viking Village, which was a fantastic pre-show experience with authentic sights, sounds, and interactions in a recreated Viking settlement. We visited the blacksmith in his forge and watched him at work, watched traditional craftspeople including a weaver and woodcarver and met the animals including sheep, Icelandic chickens and a shire horse.

Looking around the crowd it was wonderful to see generations of local families coming together to see past generations share their stories and lives through time and history.

Everyone waited excitedly beneath the stunning backdrop of Auckland Castle chapel, which was gently lit in the distance while the sun began to set. The light was beginning to fade and ahead of us the lake rippled gently.  All of the seating is positioned to ensure that wherever you sit, you will enjoy uninterrupted views of the action.

The show began with the introduction of Young Arthur and his quest to uncover the story of England.  Met by Old Arthur, the pair began the most remarkable walk through the last 2000 years of history, set right here in the Northeast of England.

It was a breathtaking moment watching the gatehouse of time slowly rising from the water paired with spine tingling music and special effects.  Within minutes the stunning white horses made a dramatic entrance accompanied by powerful music which had the hairs on my neck standing on end.

Arthur arrived back in time to meet Joseph of Arimathea and find out about the Holy Grail before heading onwards and having brief encounters with the Romans. Battles ensued, soldiers marched with costumes so real you actually felt  like you’d stepped back in time.

The Norman Conquests

Suddenly a Viking longship rose dramatically from the water and Arthur learned of the raid of Lindisfarne and the recovery of St Cuthbert’s relics.   Travelling on, Arthur encountered the Norman Conquest and journeyed to sit with the knights of the round table.  Throughout this living history we saw knights jousting, centurions marching, animals running and even Shakespeare taking his part in the evening’s entertainment.

Much to our surprise, as Arthur reached the 19th Century and began to uncover the history of the locomotive, the most magnificent full sized replica of Locomotion No 1 steam train passed by complete with passengers waving to the crowd in delight at their first ride on this great railway adventure.

New to Kynren this year is the reimagined Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee scene which saw Queen Victoria arrive in a six-horse carriage alongside 150 performers who created a wonderful choreographed street scene complete with authentic props including a Victorian pram and working vintage fire engine.

The most poignant moment for me was the reenactment of the 1914 Christmas Truce, a highly emotional scene and portrayed stunningly by the Archers.  As Kynren neared its end and we entered the final scene, Young Arthur witnessed Winston Churchill’s final hour speech. We were hanging onto every word, willing it not to end.

An unforgettable performance

To top off the night, Land of Hope and Glory began to stream out across the amphitheatre to celebrate the achievement of our great nation and its journey through time. The crowd was singing and delighting in the celebration of who we are and how we arrived at the story of us.  Fireworks lit up the sky as the cast danced along to bring to an end a unique and memorable night.

I can only describe Kynren as a fully immersive and unforgettable performance that everyone should experience, where you are fully absorbed and time seems to stand still in the here and now as you journey through the history of England.

I learned so much in 90 minutes about our past,  how it created our present and how it will shape our future. This is most definitely the start of a summer tradition that I will look forward to for many years to come and enjoy with family and friends.

Kynren starts on Saturday July 19th until Saturday September 13th, tickets can be booked via the website.

Some recommendations to help you make the most of your visit to Kynren.

• I would recommend Kynren is suitable for children aged 5 and above.
• Excellent facilities are available within the grounds of The Eleven Arches e.g. food, drinks and toilets.
• Take warm clothes and blankets and waterproof coats if rain is expected.
• Park and Ride facilities are in operation to take you to Kynren.

Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7SF