Kynren

Kynren
Pictured in 2022
VenueFlatts Farm, Bishop Auckland
Founded2016 (2016)
Capacity8,000 viewers
AreaBishop Auckland, County Durham, England
CEOAnna Warnecke
Organized by11Arches
WebsiteOfficial website
10

Kynren (/kɪnrɛn/) is a history-themed outdoor attraction in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. Its principal production, Kynren: An Epic Tale of England, is a live night-time show first staged in 2016 that depicts key moments from British history and legend spanning approximately 2,000 years.[1]

The production is staged annually during the summer and is performed by a cast and crew of over 1,000 local volunteers. It is organised by the charitable organisation 11Arches, founded by multimillionaire philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer, as part of a wider programme of cultural regeneration aimed at establishing Bishop Auckland as an international tourist destination.

Following the success of the night show, Kynren: The Storied Lands, a daytime theme park, is scheduled to open on the same site in summer 2026.[2]

History

Established in 2014, 11Arches (then Eleven Arches) began operating on 2 July 2016 when it presented the first season of Kynren: An Epic Tale of England, a sold out, open-air summer spectacular templated from the award-winning Cinéscénie produced by Puy du Fou in France.[1] The project cost over £30 million, with the majority of funding provided by investment fund founder Jonathan Ruffer.[3][4]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kynren's 2020 season was cancelled.[5]

In 2021, 11Arches Park was opened to the public, featuring new equestrian stunt show Fina and The Golden Cape as the main attraction. Audience members saw a young woman named Fina fighting to defend her village, with pyrotechnics, horse stunts and advanced combat routines filling the show on the 7.5 acre stage. Organisers described the show as having “jousting, trick-riding, vaulting and chariot-racing” performed by highly trained stunt riders.[6] The show featured the voices of actors Hugh Bonneville, Rory Kinnear, Ben Miller, Annabel Scholey and Katy Carmichael.[7]

11Arches Park also featured the Maze Of Fame, live music, the Animal Croft, the Dancing Waters show, the Viking Village and a food court.[8]

In 2022, 11Arches decided not to open the park and to allow for more to be added before reopening as a day attraction. Ticket sales for the night show were 24,476 in 2022 and 33,048 in 2023.[9]

In February 2024, Anna Warnecke, previously Director of Cavalry at Kynren, became the new 11Arches CEO with Anne-Isabelle Daulon leaving the charity. 2024 also marked Kynren's best audience levels since opening in 2016, with over 44,000 tickets sold.

Kynren: An Epic Tale of England

Kynren: An Epic Tale of England is a 90-minute open-air night-time performance that depicts 2,000 years of English history. The show follows Arthur, a fictional ten-year-old boy who travels back in time to witness pivotal moments in the history of the British Isles. These include the Roman conquest of Britain, King Arthur's search for the Holy Grail, and Winston Churchill's "Finest Hour" speech during the Second World War.[10] The show places particular emphasis on the North East of England, and features recorded narration by actor Kevin Whatley.[11] It features up to 1,500 volunteer performers, accompanied by horses, sheep, geese and Durham Shorthorn cattle.[11] Performed on summer weekends from July to September, the show's grandstand seats 8,000 spectators.[12] The production sold 100,000 tickets in its first year.[12]

The opening scene is inspired by a real event from the 1880s, when theology students playing football at Auckland Castle accidentally broke the window of the vicar, Reverend G. R. Eden.[13] The incident ultimately led to the formation of Bishop Auckland Football Club, which has become one of the most successful amateur football clubs in history.[14]

Kynren: The Storied Lands

Kynren: The Storied Lands is a daytime theme park scheduled to open in summer 2026.[2] The operators expect to attract 3.3 million visitors in the first five years.[15] At opening, the park is planned to feature five shows, each lasting approximately 25–30 minutes and staged multiple times per day:[15]

  • Fina, a horse stunt show adapted from Fina and the Golden Cape
  • The Legend of the Wear, a water-based stunt show based on the local legend of the Lambton Worm, featuring water effects, fight scenes, and stunts on a large lake
  • The Lost Feather, a bird show featuring 300 birds, staged in a purpose-built 3,600-seat arena[2]
  • A Viking-themed show
  • A Victorian England-themed "walk-through experience", incorporating the Victorian Village from the former Flambards theme park in Cornwall[16]

The operators plan to introduce additional shows in subsequent years, including performances based on the legends of Excalibur and Robin Hood. The Lone Centurion will depict Roman Britain, with an emphasis on Binchester Roman Fort and Hadrian’s Wall, while Conquest of the Seas will focus on Tudor England, including the naval career of Sir Francis Drake.[15]

Awards

Kynren, 11Arches, and the volunteers have won various awards including:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Our History". Kynren. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Edgar, Bill (20 April 2025). "First phase of Kynren theme park in Bishop Auckland approved". BBC News. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  3. ^ Tighe, Chris (19 June 2016). "Epic England tale promises to be history in the making". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 January 2026. "What can I do as one person?" said Mr Ruffer, investment fund founder and philanthropist, who has funded most of the project's £35m cost.
  4. ^ Handley, Paul (8 July 2016). "Epic spectacle defies weather". Church Times. Retrieved 26 January 2026. Evidence of the £31 million that Mr Ruffer has spent on the project is clear before taking one's seat in the seating block, which looks like something the Saxons might have built.
  5. ^ Priestley, Catherine (23 June 2020). "Kynren 2020 and launch of new park cancelled; Jonathan Ruffer sponsors survival". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  6. ^ Connor, Craig (3 August 2021). "Epic new show - Fina and the Golden Cape premieres in County Durham". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  7. ^ Engelbrecht, Gavin (31 May 2022). "What to expect if you're heading to Kynren in Bishop Auckland for Queen's Jubilee". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  8. ^ "The Park". www.kynren.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. ^ Charities Commission
  10. ^ Metcalf, Charlotte (25 July 2016). "Kynren: 2,000 years of British history in one quirky show". The Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. ^ a b Wilkinson, Paul (30 June 2017). "Summer snow to fall on Kynren pageant". Church Times. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  12. ^ a b Whetstone, David (26 June 2017). "Kynren in Durham: As the second season of historical epic approaches, what can visitors expect?". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  13. ^ Raine, Madeleine (5 August 2024). "REVIEW: What I thought of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England as annual series of summer shows returns". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  14. ^ "The final chapter in a tale of glory". The Northern Echo. 20 April 2002. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  15. ^ a b c Mitchell, Bea (24 July 2025). "Epic evolution and expansion at Kynren, the UK's historical theme park". Blooloop. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  16. ^ Parkman, Chloe (13 March 2025). "Cornwall's Flambards Victorian village sold, auctioneer confirms". BBC News. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  17. ^ Morris, Joanna (5 June 2018). "Kynren's army of Archers among those to receive Queen's Award". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  18. ^ "Kynren wins Innovation in Tourism Award at 2018 Group Travel Awards". UKinbound. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  19. ^ Hodgson, Barbara (6 August 2019). "Award for Kynren as disabled and deaf viewers praise experience". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
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