In the small town of Bishop Auckland County Durham lies the story of the History of England. A yearly spectacular, Kynren, guides its audiences through the past 2000 years of significant historical events that have shaped our country.
Kynren is produced and brought to life by registered charity Eleven Arches who have created this outstanding performance. Their aim is to put Bishop Auckland on the map as one of the greatest international tourist destinations and raise awareness of the significance of the town and The North East within British History.
Kynren is an epic experience made possible by 1,476 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”.
Looking at the crowd it was easy to see that generations of local families had come together to see past generations share their stories and lives. We had the pleasure of visiting Kynren and witnessing this extraordinary event.
As we were guided to our seats in the open air amphitheatre, we were met with the stunning backdrop of Auckland Castle chapel, gently lit in the distance. The light was beginning to fade and ahead of us the lake rippled gently. All seating is well thought out 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 North East 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 an imposing 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. Think battles, marches and costumes so real you actually feel like you’ve stepped back in time. A Viking ship 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 steam train passed by complete with passengers waving to the crowd in delight at their first ride on this great railway adventure.
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.
And then, 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 to bring to an end a unique and memorable night.
I can only describe Kynren as a fully immersive and unforgettable journey through time and history that everyone must experience, a time when you are fully absorbed and become one with the show. 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 – my Kin.
It is easy to see why Kynren has won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK to recognise outstanding work in communities. Kynren has also been nominated for the 2023 shortlist for Best Event for Groups in the Group Leisure and Travel awards.
Kynren starts on Saturday July 29th until Saturday September 9th, tickets can be booked via the website or this link Book Tickets here
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.
- Take warm clothes and blankets and waterproof coats if rain is expected.
- Food and drinks are available to buy at the event.
- Park and Ride facilities are in operation to take you to Kynren.
Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7SF
Review and some images by Maria Davison @girlaboutdurham
Other Images supplied
