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A total of 150 youngsters from across County Durham have dedicated their time during the summer holidays to entertain audiences from all over the UK in epic live show Kynren – An Epic Tale of England.

The children have spent their six-week break volunteering with roar-some Romans, valiant Vikings and a menagerie of animals in the outdoor spectacle, set on a seven-and-a-half- acre outdoor stage in Bishop Auckland.  

Starring in the thrill-a-minute shows, which take place on Saturday evenings throughout the summer, children as young as five make up part of the 1,000-strong cast and crew.

Building confidence, learning new skills and being a part of a community are just some of the benefits children involved in Kynren gain.

Jaden Dixon is a volunteer at Kynren and joined the production when he was nine years old, and the shows have become an integral part of his year.

He said: “I absolutely love being part of such an amazing family of likeminded people and welcoming new members into the team. Kynren has helped me massively in developing my confidence and has given me the skills needed to develop my CV and apply for my current job in the NHS.

“Nowhere else offers such unique experiences to young people. Rarely would a teenager be able to work shoulder-to-shoulder with 1,000 fellow cast and crew and earn awards such as the Queens Award for Voluntary Service,” he added.

Volunteers at Kynren also get the chance to gain new skills in unique areas such as pyrotechnics, acting and animal handling.

“My friends were always surprised that even as a teenager I was handling fire, running with sheep and walking on water!” Jaden added.

Youngsters and grown-ups perform alongside each other in front of an 8,000-seater tribune retelling captivating stories from England’s history such as Boudicca’s battles with the Romans, two world wars and the Industrial Revolution.

For many, Kynren has become a family affair with all generations getting involved. Farrah Elegy, her husband and two children help at the award-winning show in different teams.

Farrah said: “Kynren has become part of our family! Myself and my two daughters Amira and Eva spend every Saturday night performing in Kynren over the summer.

“Eva was five when she first performed in Kynren and this is her fourth season. This year my oldest daughter Amira has moved up into the teens team, Eva’s remained in the kids’ team and I’ve moved over to the Cavalry Team.

“Horses are a passion of mine and although riding in the show is fantastic, the buzz of being backstage with the children and chaperones, hanging on to lots of little hands while running on stage, and seeing the glow on their faces at the start and end of every show is something special. Kynren gives me quality one-on-one time with my children away from the hustle and bustle of life and it’s just amazing.”

Now children are back at school, they have just two more shows to go before Kynren’s 2024 season ends on Saturday 14^th September.

Farrah added: “For anyone considering trying something new or taking part in something wonderful with their kids, Kynren will help you make memories that will last a lifetime! We are proud to be Archers.”