Kynren

Kynren is an outdoor history attraction beside the River Wear in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Its centrepiece is the nightly summer show Kynren: An Epic Tale of England, which tells 2,000 years of British history through a story about a boy who travels through time. The show is staged by more than 1,000 local volunteers and has played to over 100,000 spectators since opening in 2016. Behind the scenes, the charitable organisation 11Arches runs the project, founded by Jonathan Ruffer as part of efforts to regenerate Bishop Auckland. The first season cost over £30 million and sold out immediately, drawing inspiration from the French Cinéscénie format. After a pause in 2020, the team launched 11Arches Park in 2021 with new shows and attractions. The night show mixes recorded narration by Kevin Whately with live action on an eight-thousand-seat grandstand. Scenes include the Roman conquest of Britain, King Arthur’s quest for the Holy Grail, and Winston Churchill’s wartime speeches, with horses, sheep and Durham Shorthorn cattle taking part. A notable opening scene recalls a real 19th-century football mishap that led to the founding of Bishop Auckland Football Club. Ticket sales rose from twenty-four thousand in 2022 to more than forty-four thousand in 2024, making it one of the region’s most popular summer events. The production has won awards for voluntary service and accessibility, recognising the work of its large cast and crew. Visitors find a daytime theme park planned for 2026 called Kynren: The Storied Lands, with five shows on a seven-and-a-half-acre stage. These include horse stunts, a water-based Lambton Worm legend, a bird show in a three-thousand-six-hundred-seat arena, and a Viking-themed performance. A Victorian walk-through experience will bring the 19th century to life, while future shows will cover Roman Britain and Tudor naval history. The park aims to welcome millions of visitors in its first five years, adding new productions each season. Until then, the night show remains the main attraction, performed on summer weekends from July to September.