Kynren Celebrates Volunteers' Week

5th June 2019

The 1,000-strong cast and crew of ‘Kynren – an epic tale of England’, the UK’s largest outdoor theatrical performance, is celebrating Volunteers’ Week (1st-7th June).
 
Made up of volunteers the team - known as Archers - is currently hard at work rehearsing for this year’s spectacular which premieres on Saturday, 29th June.
 
The brainchild of philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer, Kynren was created to be a world-class show which would act as an engine for tourism-led growth in the North East.
 
A key part of the multi-award winning show’s success is the passion and enthusiasm of its volunteers who are committed to train as professionals in all the production areas, from cast to cavalry to technical direction to props and costumes making, as well as visitors meet-and-greet.
 
Working with a team of professionals, the Archers are able to discover and develop a host of new skills and abilities which not only boost their self-confidence but also provide them with practical experience which opens up new opportunities.
 
“Volunteers of all ages have been able to learn new skills, try out different career directions and have found a real purpose,” said Anne-Isabelle Daulon, CEO of Eleven Arches, the charity behind Kynren.

“One example is Cameron Bell one of our young volunteers who came here not knowing what he wanted to do next. He did some volunteering on site alongside our ambulance services and has gone on to become a trainee paramedic.
 
“All the volunteers say the confidence level they have gained spills into all areas of their lives. The benefit of having experts to train volunteers means they gain skills and confidence as well as producing a world-class show,” she added.
 
The impact of Kynren’s volunteering on the community was officially recognised when the cast and crew received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
 
“Within our cast and crew, we have people working together that wouldn’t necessarily interact in other aspects of their life, and it creates very strong bonds, friendships for life,” said Anne-Isabelle.
 
“We end up having primary school children working together with a cast in their 60s and 70s – it’s incredible.
 
“More than 80% of our cast and crew are returning each year. We all take great pride in seeing Kynren reach TripAdvisor’s top five performances to see in England, which we’ve achieved because of all our volunteers’ passion, professionalism and commitment.
 
“They have also had the opportunity to meet and work with new people from all walks of life, and it’s that rich family of cast and crew that is conveyed to our audience in the spirit of each performance,” she added.
 
Taking place every Saturday from 29th June to 14th September*, ‘Kynren – an epic tale of England’ is a multi-award winning outdoor theatre show, performed on a gigantic 7.5-acre stage just outside Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
 
The show magically transports audiences back through time on a stunning journey through 2,000 years of English history and legend; from Boudicca and King Arthur to Queen Elizabeth I and the English Civil War on to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and both World Wars.
 
Volunteers' Week is a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.
 
To find out more about Kynren and special group discount offers click here >>