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Kynren kicks off summer season with a successful preview night
16th July 2024
In eager anticipation of the start of its summer season, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England hosted its preview night, inviting friends and family of the 1,000 strong cast and crew to witness the magic in Bishop Auckland.
Performing to a crowd in the 8,000-seater tribune, Kynren’s ensemble brought to life the tale of England’s 2,000-year history on the seven-and-a-half-acre outdoor stage featuring daring stunts, skilful horsemanship, mass choreography, pyrotechnics and intricate combat scenes.
Preview night attendees were also the first to experience the new pre-show entertainment – with the Return of the Vikings. Featuring an authentic recreation of a Viking Village which is on the brink of a raid, audiences experienced a working blacksmith’s forge where chainmail is created by hand and sparks fly in the process.
They visited the cookhouse, peeked inside the 9th century cottages, wandered through the vegetable patch and met livestock which Vikings would have traditionally kept and farmed.
Guests then took to their seats at dusk. The show started at sunset and ended in starlight to evoke an enchanting atmosphere and create the perfect backdrop for a spectacular firework finale.
Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren, said: “The preview night is always a fantastic opportunity for our team to share with friends and family the hard work that has gone into the production – and is great preparation ahead of our first official show later this month. Seeing is believing and I think a world-class show like ours must be experienced in real life – it’s wonderful that we can give this gift to guests attending the preview night.
“We can’t wait to see what visitors in 2024 enjoy the most about Kynren! We want to build upon this destination each year so that new and returning audiences always leave feeling in awe of what creatives and volunteers can accomplish when working together. I think a highlight for me at this year’s preview night has been the Viking Village become a bustling attraction of its own.”
The volunteer cast and crew are made up of people of all ages – from five up to 85 years – and entire families join in with the show, with grandparents, parents and children all getting involved.
Together, they tell the story of England’s dramatic past, in a live action night show inspired by a spellbinding combination of local heritage and English history as they shine the spotlight on the Romans, Vikings, Norman Conquest, the bloody outcome of England’s Civil War, King Charles I’s final journey to the executioner’s block, the Age of Steam, World War I Christmas truce, the Queen’s Coronation and more.
Kynren translates to the Anglo Saxon word ‘cynren’, meaning kin or family which was especially apt during the 2024 preview night, as family and friends watched over the cast on a stage the same size as five football pitches.
Finishing with a roaring applause and firework finale, it was a tremendous success. The next show will be open to the public on Saturday 27 July and tickets are on sale now for the summer season.
Show dates and timings for 2024:
- July 27 (Gates open 6:45 PM, performance starts 9:15 PM)
- August 3 (Gates open 6:30 PM, performance starts 9:00 PM)
- August 10 (Gates open 6:15 PM, performance starts 8:45 PM)
- August 17 (Gates open 6:00 PM, performance starts 8:30 PM)
- August 24 (Gates open 6:00 PM, performance starts 8:30 PM)
- August 31 (Gates open 5:30 PM, performance starts 8:00 PM)
- September 7 (Gates open 5:00 PM, performance starts 7:30 PM)
- September 14 (Gates open 5:00 PM, performance starts 7:30 PM)
