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Aug
Charley Christopher is the Stray Ferret's Marketing and Audience Manager, with an extensive background in radio, theatre, marketing and communications.
In her spare time she has a keen interest in the arts, attending as many concerts and theatre performances as she can.
Billing itself as 'two thousand years of history, myth and legend' in a 90 minute performance, Kynren - presented by theatre company 11 Arches - is a live-action show regaling audience members with the history of England.
The name Kynren is derived from the Anglo Saxon word ‘cynren’, meaning generation, kin or family, a fitting reflection of the narrative being told.
The epic 29 scene play is set against the backdrop of the beautiful countryside of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, around an hour’s drive away from Harrogate.
Audience members sit on a tribune from which they can watch the action unfold, across the 'stage' of a grassy bank, a lake, a castle and a cottage.
The action plays across the audience's peripheral vision - you often have to turn your head to ensure you don't miss a moment - with hundreds of performers, many of whom are local volunteers.
They're not all human either; livestock and other animals, including horse, cows, sheep and geese are included in the tale.
(Image: supplied)
From fables such as King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake, through to the clash of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, all the way to both world wars and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, no stone is left unturned in the retelling of the stories that shaped England's history.
Incredible pieces of set that rise from the lake, flames and fireworks render the crowd breathless and the show ties up in an incredible, breath-taking finale. It's truly an epic performance on a cinematic scale.
Kynren shows to around 8000 people every single performance, and it is incredibly well organised with lots of volunteers and staff on hand to help.
Travelling to and from the venue, there are several shuttle points to park at, with regular double-decker buses taking visitors to the arena.
There's also a refreshment court, which can be busy pre-show, but serves a range of reasonably priced food and drink options; a pulled pork roll was £6 and a chips were £3.
Top tip: take a cushion and a blanket. The seating is a little firm and once the sun goes down, the fresh air can be chilly.
Kynren is being shown until Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Ticket prices start from £26 for adults and £16 for children and teens (aged 4-17).
Performance start times get earlier as the summer months progress to make sure the lighting conditions for the performance go from daylight to darkness.
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