Kynren's 1,000-strong volunteer cast and crew wowed friends and family on Saturday night during the final dress rehearsal for the spectacular tenth anniversary season of Kynren – An Epic Tale of England. The summer run officially begins on Saturday 19th July in Bishop Auckland.

The breathtaking show unfolded seamlessly as impressive choreography, stunning costumes, epic stunts, dramatic props, and a powerful musical score combined to earn cheers and applause from the preview audience. The evening also marked the debut of the reimagined Jubilee scene, brought to life with 311 new props, costumes, and 186 performers.

Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren, said: “Inviting friends and family to our final dress rehearsal is always a joyous occasion. It gives our volunteers the thrill of performing in front of an audience while letting loved ones see the incredible dedication involved. Saturday evening was fantastic, and we can't wait to share our tenth anniversary season with visitors.”

Guests were also treated to a special sneak preview of The Lost Feather, one of the new shows which will feature in Kynren's historical daytime theme park, Kynren – The Storied Lands, set to open in summer 2026. A magnificent falcon, rare vultures, rose-breasted cockatoos, macaws, and elegant African crowned cranes amazed the audience as they gracefully flew across the stage and round the tribune.

Anna added: “Hearing the audience gasp as our beautiful birds emerged is a moment I'll cherish. It was a wonderful opportunity to share a glimpse of what's coming while highlighting our important conservation work.”

This milestone year celebrates not just Kynren's 10th anniversary season, but also the 200th anniversary of the nearby Stockton and Darlington Railway. Audiences will witness a replica of Locomotion No.1 steaming across the stage, commemorating the birthplace of the modern railway.

Returning for 2025, the immersive Viking Village pre-show experience gives ticketholders a taste of Viking life. Guests can watch blacksmiths at work, meet characterful sheep, donkeys, and real Icelandic chickens, and practice battle cries with Viking warriors preparing for a raid.

Kynren – An Epic Tale of England takes audiences on an unforgettable 90-minute journey through 2,000 years of British history, myth, and legend. The story follows Arthur, a local boy who embarks on a time-traveling adventure after accidentally kicking a football through a window at Auckland Palace. From Boudicca's rebellion to Viking invasions, medieval jousts, the Norman Conquest, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, and the rise of industry, the show brings history vividly to life with awe-inspiring stunts, pyrotechnics, and seamless choreography.

Ranked 5 stars on Tripadvisor, Kynren's dazzling outdoor-theatre spectacle is the must-see event of the summer. Performances start at sunset and finish in starlight every Saturday night from 19th July to 13th September.

Tickets are priced from £30 for adults and from £20 for under-18s, with children aged 3 and under free on an adult's knee.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.kynren.com.

SHOW DATES AND TIMINGS FOR 2025:  

• Saturday 19th July (Gates open at 6.45pm, performance starts at 9.15pm)  

• Saturday 26th July (Gates open at 6.45pm, performance starts at 9.15pm)  

• Saturday 2nd August (Gates open at 6.45pm, performance starts at 9.15pm)  

• Saturday 9th August (Gates open at 6.30pm, performance starts at 9pm)     

• Saturday 16th August (Gates open at 6.15pm, performance starts at 8.45pm)  

• Saturday 23rd August (Gates open at 6pm, performance starts at 8.30pm)   

• Saturday 30th August (Gates open at 5.45pm, performance starts at 8.15pm)          

• Saturday 6th September (Gates open at 5.30pm, performance starts at 8pm)  

• Saturday 13th September (Gates open at 5.15pm, performance starts at 7.45pm)  

ENDS   

For more information, contact Nikki Smith Nsmith@kynren.com 

Notes to editors 

The Spirit of Kynren
Since 2016, Kynren has welcomed over 430,000 visitors and contributed £65.5 million to the North East economy, while empowering more than 1,000 volunteers each year through skills, confidence, and community spirit.

As Kynren celebrates its 10th anniversary season of the night show, plans for The Storied Lands — the UK's first historical theme park — are underway, with the first phase set to open in summer 2026.

Every ticket supports Kynren's mission to educate, conserve, and inspire.

About Kynren – An Epic Tale of England
Since launching in 2016 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Kynren has established itself as the UK's must-see live-action outdoor show. This multi-award winning production takes audiences on an unforgettable journey through 2,000 years of British history, myth, and legend, following Young Arthur on his quest to discover “the story of us.”

Performed on a sprawling 7.5-acre stage — equivalent to five football pitches — the 90-minute show begins at sunset and concludes under the stars. Highlights include:

• 29 dramatic scenes, from the Roman conquest and Boudicca's rebellion to Viking invasions, medieval jousting tournaments, and a newly imagined Jubilee scene celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, reimagined for 2025 with authentic Victorian props and costumes.
• A powerful recreation of railway mania, featuring Locomotion No. 1 roaring across the stage in a tribute marking the railway's 200th anniversary.
• A volunteer cast and crew of over 1,000 people.
• Jaw-dropping stunts, pyrotechnics, and special effects.
• Majestic horses, a gaggle of geese, and other animals bring history to life on stage, adding realism and heart to the performance.
• An epic soundtrack composed by Nathan Stornetta, with narration by Kevin Whately guiding audiences through each moment.

All performances take place in a purpose-built 8,000-seat tribune designed to ensure every seat has a perfect view of the action.

Before the main event, visitors can step back in time in the immersive Viking Village pre-show experience. This living 9th-century settlement features blacksmiths forging weapons, warriors training in battle techniques, craftspeople demonstrating traditional skills, and villagers tending animals — offering hands-on, family-friendly activities that bring history vividly to life.

Kynren celebrates its tenth anniversary season in 2025 with shows every Saturday night from 19th July to 13th September.

Tickets start from £30 for adults and £20 for children, with premium seating and group discounts available.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.kynren.com.

About Kynren - The Storied Lands:
Building on the success of its acclaimed night show, Kynren is developing its most ambitious project yet: Kynren – The Storied Lands, a groundbreaking historical theme park opening in summer 2026. Located within the broader Kynren site in Bishop Auckland, The Storied Lands will take visitors on a time-travelling adventure that brings history, myth, and legend to life.

Unlike traditional theme parks that focus on rides, Kynren – The Storied Lands invites exploration and connection with the past, delivering multiple live action shows featuring heart pounding moments of action, thrilling stunts, incredible performances, immersive storytelling, epic music and innovative technology as it takes visitors on an emotional journey through time

Phase one of the park will feature five monumental shows and immersive experiences set against beautifully landscaped historical backdrops including Neolithic Britain, Land of the Vikings, Victorian Adventure, Legend of the Wear, The Lost Feather and Fina

Future phases of development will introduce even more attractions, including The Lone Centurion, Tales of the Tudors, Conquest of the Seas and legendary stories such as Excalibur and Robin Hood, ensuring that each visit offers something fresh and exciting.