On the 1st of August I headed to Kynren in Bishop Auckland with some friends. This was my third time seeing the night show, but this time, I also had a day ticket too. I can’t remember whether they had day tickets last year, but historically, it’s always been a night time event until recently. That meant we got to spend the day wandering around Kynren - The Storied Lands, catching a few of the daytime shows before the evening spectacle.
Victorian Imaginariums
We started with Victorian Imaginariums, a walkthrough maze with costumed characters wandering around and short scenes playing out as you go.
What I’m really looking forward to though is the full Victorian Village in 2027. They’re planning around 40 shops, homes, and scenes as a proper indoor immersive village. That is going to be incredible!
The Lost Feather
The Lost Feather was one of my two favourites of the day. It’s a free-flight bird show with loads of birds, some of which got pretty close to your head as they flew across! I also got to see some owls really close up, and I love owls, so that was a big win for me.
The whole thing is set in a nest-inspired arena with water, mist, and an original score. It’s genuinely beautiful.
The Trusty Steed
The Trusty Steed is a proper equestrian arena show: horses, trick riding, stunts, the lot. It follows a young woman whose world falls apart, and the bond she forms with a lame horse that ends up changing everything. This was my other favourite of the day. The horsemanship is brilliant and the story lands surprisingly well for something that big and theatrical.
Legend of the Wear
Next up was Legend of the Wear, a lakeside live-action show based on the Lambton Worm myth. Water stunts, chaos on the lake, and a North East folklore story at the centre of it. It’s family-friendly and a solid bit of spectacle.
Land of the Vikings
Land of the Vikings was a real highlight for me, and not just because of the arena show.
Before you sit down for the performance, you walk through a Viking settlement. There were people blacksmithing, fishing, and farming, and Vikings wandering around the village. I really enjoyed that part. It reminded me of being in Skyrim! I even managed to get a photo with one of the Vikings, and we called each other “brother”.
The show itself is high-energy: fire, shield walls, combat, the works. Short, loud, and a lot of fun.
An Epic Tale of England
Then came the night show: An Epic Tale of England. This was my third time seeing it and it was incredible as always. Massive outdoor stage, horses, pyrotechnics, water effects, and 2,000 years of history, myth, and legend packed into one evening. Still one of the best things I’ve seen.
If you’ve not been to Kynren yet, it’s well worth the trip. I’ll almost certainly be back when the Victorian Village opens!