If you’ve never seen Kynren then its high time you took a trip to Bishop Auckland to witness this spectacular epic tale of England.

Over the decades I have seen many historical pageants far and wide – but this beats them all! To say its spectacular is an understatement – this is live action theatre that borders on brilliance.

The 8,000 seater theatre is set in the beautifully landscaped grounds of Kynren, nestled at the bottom of the hill on which Auckland Palace proudly sits.
The 90 minute show takes you through 2,000 years of history on a seven-and-a-half acre stage with a cast and crew of 1,000 volunteers and not forgetting the 150 animals - Kyren makes legends come to life.

From the Viking invasion, knights jousting, Roman chariot races, the Norman conquest and pastoral Georgian scenes to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, the industrial revolution, pit disasters and war-time courage appear literally before your very eyes.
I’d heard about Kynren but I can honestly say that never in my wildest dreams did I imagine such a mind-blowing show.

There’s a sudden hush of anticipation that falls around the arena as we hear the opening words “This is the story of us..” – and then Kynren begins to weave its magic.
We meet local boy Arthur, who accidently kicks a football through a window at Auckland Palace which sets the wheels in motion for his time travelling quest to learn the story from a wise old man of “How we became England”

A gateway rises from the water and Arthur begins his journey through time.
Joseph of Arimathea, who legend has it brought Christianity to Britain and held the secret of the Holy Grail, appears and walks on the water all round him whilst images ride through the water.

We see Boudicca’s doomed rebellion, the arrival of Emperor Constantine in Binchester with magnificent horses flamed torches and chariots. St.Bede and St. Cuthbert appear as we experience the Dark and Golden ages of Northumbria before a Viking ship rises from the water and their invasion begins.

Our history lesson moves on via knights jousting at high speed for glory that will literally take your breath away to 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, Robert the Bruce and the Scottish invasion whilst a house opens up to reveal Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Henry VIII’s Field of The Cloth of Gold – one of the most lavish tournaments that ever took place - sees crinoline ladies dance and stand on the water. Elizabeth I’s barge lit by torchlight glides across the water to Shakespearian text from Romeo and Juliet both some of the most visually beautiful pieces of the show.

The Roundheads and Cavaliers then follow having a strong local connection to Auckland Castle.

Georgian Harvest celebrations follow are particularly impressive. Just how do they get goats, geese, sheep, shorthorn cows, donkeys and Icelandic chickens to parade so well! This is a show-stopper indeed.

Gasps of delight and applause greet the full-scale replica of Locomotion No.1 steams across the stage to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway that shaped this region and the world forever.

Modern history arrives on the scene with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Parade with a six horse carriage and more than 20 horses in the scene.

The mood then becomes sombre with a moving and well directed scene of a local pit disaster where we see the spirits of the dead cross the water and the funerals and aftermath of family and town despair.

World War 1 features with the Christmas Day Truce and the famous game of football whilst red poppies light the castle walls. The suffragettes make their appearance and we see Nancy Astor become an MP and the mood lightens with Miners Galas, Brass Bands and dancing.

But the impending clouds of war appear again as our island is threatened with invasion and another stand-out piece from the show comes with Churchill’s 1940 full speech to Parliament that concluded with “This was their finest hour”.
After this Arthur returns from time travelling and experiences the coronation of the late
Queen and Windrush.

“So much has happened here in this corner of England” heralds the stage and the audience, including yours truly, to burst into song with that patriotic Proms favourite Land of Hope and Glory – I amazed myself by still remembering all the words from my days in the school choir.

Now in its 10th year Kynren is an enthralling five star production that is a must-see for everyone -so what are you waiting for.

Fact File
Kynren is performed at 11 Arches Park in Bishop Auckland, just 25 minutes from Durham and Darlington.
The performances are every Saturday from 19th July to 13th September.
Performances start at sunset and last 90 minutes. Check website for performance times as they vary.

For further information and to book visit www.kynren.com. Tel: 01388 436030 or email info@kynren.com