Behind the thunder of hooves, the clash of steel and the cinematic sweep of history on the Kynren stage, another epic undertaking is quietly unfolding.

One measured in fabric, form and fine detail. At the heart of it is Emily Baxendale, the Head of Wardrobe for Kynren – The Storied Lands, the UK's first live-action show park, which opens this summer.

Emily leads a small, highly skilled team responsible for designing and creating all of the historical costumes worn by performers across both productions.

These are not costumes designed simply to look the part. They must withstand combat, stunts, horses, flying birds and relentless movement, while remaining historically authentic, comfortable and safe.

“I've always loved being creative,” Emily explained. “I owe a lot to my textiles teacher at school, she completely opened up the world of fashion, textiles and fabric for me.

“I went on to study Costume Design and Making, and I've worked in costume for about a decade, mainly in theatre. To be honest, I've learned more on the job than I ever did at university.”

Kynren has been part of that journey almost from the beginning.

“One of my first jobs out of uni was actually here,” she said. “I worked as a seamstress for the first two seasons, so it's been really special seeing it grow from the start.

“When the main designer role came up, it felt like a full-circle moment. It fit my experience perfectly, but also offered completely new challenges.”

Those challenges are on a formidable scale. With thousands of years of history represented across multiple shows, Emily's work begins long before a needle is threaded.

“It starts with research; books, exhibitions, old illustrations, then fabric sourcing, pattern drafting and prototyping,” she explained.

“You also have to think practically: where performers need stretch, how costumes behave around horses or birds, what might distract an animal, or restrict movement.

“You don't really know until it's on the mannequin, or on a performer. Sometimes it's a risk, but that's part of the process.”

Emily has a particular love for the 18th century. “It's probably my favourite era, especially women's wear; it's extravagant, very feminine, with incredible silhouettes, patterns and textures.

“Men's fashion is fascinating too; it changes so much between periods and can be surprisingly flamboyant.”

Alongside the evening spectacle of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, Emily and her team are also preparing for the opening of Kynren – The Storied Lands, launching this July.

The immersive daytime experience brings history closer than ever before, with performers and costumes seen up close by visitors.

“That's been really exciting,” Emily said. “You're designing for intimacy as well as impact. Every texture, fastening and detail matters because audiences are right there with you.”

The new attraction also allows for greater creative freedom. “I'm currently really enjoying working on a witch costume,” Emily added. “She's not tied to a specific period, so there's room to be more mysterious to add hidden elements that only reveal themselves when she moves. Those storytelling details are really satisfying.”

Despite the scale of the productions, what stands out most to Emily is the atmosphere.

“There's a real feeling of community and family at Kynren,” she says. “It's such a strong, friendly team, and everyone genuinely cares about what they're creating.”

And then there are the moments you never quite expect. “Constructing my first headless horseman costume for last year's Pyromusical,” she laughs. “That was definitely one I won't forget.”

Looking ahead, the excitement is already building. “I'm really looking forward to seeing everything come together especially as The Storied Lands opens and continues to grow.

“Watching ideas turn into something real, something people can step into that's the best part,” she added

In a production defined by spectacle, Emily and her dedicated team's work is the invisible thread that holds centuries together.