In a nutshell
An outdoor live show that zips through 2,000 years of English history, with appearances from the Venerable Bede, Boudica, William the Conqueror, Cardinal Wolsey, William Shakespeare, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill and Kevin Whately (his voice, that is), not to mention a lifesize Norman longship, a revolving house and a replica moving steam train. Starting at dusk and ending in darkness, it’s told from the point of view of a time-travelling local lad, which draws in young audiences immediately.
Fun fact
Creative director Steve Boyd has worked on 13 Olympic and Paralympic opening ceremonies. So he was well-qualified to take on the training and mass choreography of nearly 1,500 local volunteers (aged between five and 80), 34 horses, a herd of sheep, a gaggle of geese and two Durham shorthorn oxen.
Best thing about it?
For my boys, aged 10 and 13, brought up on Marvel films, the fight scenes were a little tame (despite real flaming arrows and galloping horses). But they loved the stunning pyrotechnics and the slapstick – a sense of humour sets Kynren apart from the earnestly patriotic Puy du Fou in the French Vendée, the theme park that inspired it. They cooed when Harry Potter-esque giant handwriting appeared in the night sky and they whooped at the climactic fireworks. And when the arches of Durham Cathedral were evoked using light and water jets during the night’s most emotional scene, we all had lumps in our throats.
Exit through the gift shop?
More like “enter through the food court”. You’re advised to get there 45 minutes before the show starts for security checks and bag searches, leaving plenty of time to have your sleeves tugged towards the food and drink stalls clustered round the entrance. We resisted sausage sandwiches (£5), burgers (£6.50) and fish and chips (£8.50), but relented to candy-striped bags of bonbons from a VW Camper-turned-sweet shop.
Getting there
It’s a 30-40 minute walk from Bishop Auckland train station. Drivers must buy a parking voucher (£7 in advance, £25 – yes, really – on the night) and catch a shuttle bus (£2pp return) or walk from one of several off-site car parks (there is disabled parking on site).
Value for money?
It’s an expensive 90 minutes (adults £25-£55, children £19-£41) and the glossy programmes are a bit steep at £10. But this is the only show of its kind in the UK and there’s more to it than great entertainment: Kynren is run by a charity whose aim is to regenerate Bishop Auckland and revitalise its communities.
Opening times
Fridays and Saturdays (plus Sunday 27 August) until 16 September; start times vary.
Verdict
9/10.
