Ahead of its tenth anniversary season, 95% of last year’s volunteers are returning for Kynren – An Epic Tale of England’s milestone year, which will run each Saturday from 19th July until 13th September this year.
Whether performing on stage, crafting intricate props and costumes, getting involved with technical support, caring for animals, or welcoming visitors, Kynren's dedicated team of volunteers are getting ready for another summer of spellbinding performances.
Wendy Wilshere, head of volunteer casting and engagement at Kynren believes that the strong volunteer community is one of the reasons why the show sees so many return each year.
Wendy said: “The way that all the volunteers come together to support each other, share words of encouragement and build close knit friendships in their different teams is something very special here – everyone takes something positive away with them after being involved in the show.
“Kynren is without a doubt one of the most amazing productions I’ve ever been involved in, and the dedication of our volunteers doesn’t go unnoticed. You can see during each rehearsal and team meeting that everyone is so pleased to be a part of this incredible show.”
To acknowledge the volunteers’ commitment, Kynren hosted a winter ball in January – a first for the County Durham production.
Anna Warnecke, CEO at Kynren said: “Our winter ball was a wonderful evening dedicated to our incredible volunteers who make Kynren possible. It provided us all with a great opportunity to reflect on everything we accomplished in 2024 and to look ahead to the exciting plans for 2025 and beyond.”
A party is also being held this month for last season’s younger volunteers, where they will be treated to a fun afternoon at a local trampoline park and activity centre.
Following its first volunteer open call in January, where prospective volunteers discovered all the opportunities available at Kynren and learned about each role, over 100 new volunteers have already signed up for 2025.
Kynren will be hosting two further open calls on Wednesday 12th February 2025 (6.30pm – 8.00pm) and Tuesday 4th March 2025 (6.30pm – 8.00pm) before its extended summer run begins in July.
For further information about the open calls click here.