Thousands of people turned out to watch the first night of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England.
Crowds packed into into the 8,000-seater tribune on Saturday night to watch the live action outdoor theatre show begin its eight-week run in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
The audience was transported through 2,000 years of English history, visiting the Romans, Vikings, Norman Conquest, the bloody outcome of England’s Civil War and the Industrial Revolution.
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The cast and crew, made up of 1,000 volunteers, performed the 90-minute show on the seven-and-a-half acre stage. It featured magnificent sets, mass choreography, combat, stunts, horsemanship, stunning pyrotechnics and special effects.
Kynren, which brings to life 'the story of us', also features 150 animals including performance horses, donkeys, geese and cows. They rose to the challenge on the first night, after months of training.
Grey Shire horse Cosmo is Kynren's newest recruit for 2024. He could be spotted in the epic Viking Invasion scene, where a Fisherwoman is stolen from the village by marauding Vikings.
Bethaney Shears, a volunteer at Kynren said: "Our first public performance was an incredible experience and the audience loved it.
"The adrenaline you feel when you get up on stage to perform is indescribable and to do this alongside other volunteers that are now my friends was a wonderful feeling.
"I'll never forget the cheers and standing ovation we received on Saturday."
Kynren has a new pre-show entertainment experience called Return of the Vikings in which volunteers and animals demonstrate what life was really like in a 9th century Viking settlement.
In a recreation of a Viking Village, which is on the brink of a raid, audiences experienced a working blacksmith’s forge where chainmail is created by hand and sparks fly in the process.
Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren, said: "It was lovely to see our visitors enjoying the Viking Village on Saturday – our volunteers had so much fun in their Viking roles, engaging with the public to make this such a memorable experience before the show.
"However the highlight of the evening for me was the firework finale, as our wonderful cast took to the stage one final time for the evening. The night sky was illuminated by the fireworks, the crowd were on their feet cheering, and I could see how much that performance meant to our volunteers. After months of training and dedication, they gave our audience a phenomenal show to enjoy, and I couldn’t be prouder."
The show, which starts at sunset and ends in starlight, will take place every Saturday night until September 14. Tickets are from £26 for adults and from £16 for under 18s. Children aged three and under are free when sat on an adult’s knee.
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