Advertorial feature, July 2023
It was my first time at Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, and now I see what all the fuss is about and why everyone raves about it. I can honestly say, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before!
I’ve wanted to go for a while as a child-free date night, but could never quite make it work – so of course ended up going along with just me and the kids instead (ages 5 and 7). To be honest I’m glad it worked out that way! The kids were in awe, the show is full of surprises right from the start, and ended with a well-deserved standing ovation. I won’t give too much away, but the kids put it nicely explaining some of the highlights to their dad:
‘boats and trees and a magic time portal came up out of the lake.’
‘there were galloping horses, and stunt sheep and geese.’
‘there was a real house, then the whole thing spun round’
‘a boat was on fire and sunk into the water, and a real horse and rider were really on fire!’
When my husband gave me that look over their heads of ‘don’t kids talk a load of nonsense sometimes’ I had to back them up and confirm that it had all actually happened, and more!
I can see why a lot of people seem to go back every year, I’d happily watch it all again straight away, and would recommend it for all ages – we’re getting tickets for the in-laws as a treat! Children are welcome with no age restrictions, although it’s a 90 minute show with no interval and a late finish, so it’s down to parental judgement. I was a bit unsure if my wriggly kids would manage for that long without losing interest, but any time they did get a bit fidgety there was always a surprise around the corner to draw them back in. With the dramatic set changes and effects it was like watching a magic show on a whole new level.
The story is a whistlestop tour through history following the journey of a young Arthur. On his quest he uncovers key historical events from the perspective of the local area, from the Romans and Vikings to more recent history. I’m not much of a history buff, but you don’t need to be to enjoy the show. Embarrassingly I’m practically on level pegging with the kids, so we all learned a few things! As well as plenty of action, there are some really poignant emotional moments and fun uplifting scenes. It’s an outdoor experience in a beautiful setting, starting at dusk and finishing into the night making it extra atmospheric. The sets, costumes, music, choreography, illuminations, water features, laser lights, fireworks… everything was fantastic. The kids were fascinated and were full of questions afterwards. As well as talking about the different events in history, it really sparked their interest in finding out about how all of the different effects worked. They haven’t stopped telling people about it.
All of the staff there – as well as the performers – did a brilliant job. I hadn’t realised before that the cast and crew are made up of volunteers. People are choosing to be there, to show their support and be part of it and there’s a real buzz about the place. All of the staff we came across seemed genuinely happy to be there, big smiles all round and people made an effort to chat with the kids, which they always love (this could partly be because we looked a bit odd – I’d read fancy dress is welcome for kids so we’d gone along with crowns, an inflatable axe and pirate sword).
There’s a few more things I wasn’t clear on initially, and a bit of general info which could be useful to know…
Look out for early bird discounts on tickets and family saver tickets. It’s straightforward to also book parking online if needed, along with a short shuttle bus ride. There’s plenty of info on the website explaining the parking options, recommended arrival times and restrictions to accommodate the huge number of visitors for each show. I wasn’t sure if it would be a bit hectic managing the crowds with two young kids, but everything was so well organised with such attention to detail that it all felt very smooth and stress free. On arrival I was asked to reverse into the car park space to avoid congestion when leaving, there were lots of staff around directing people, easy self-scan ticket check with plenty of turn styles, fast moving queues at the food court and a separate bar serving cold drinks and snacks. Even the loos seemed to follow a one-way system.
For security reasons outside food and drink isn’t allowed beyond the ticket check point, but there’s a lovely Food Court area with plenty of lakeside seating. It was great fun watching the fountains set to music while we waited, it was all part of the experience. It was a very family-friendly atmosphere, with plenty of space for the kids to have a good run around on the hill. There’s no food allowed within the Tribune seating area, but drinks are allowed and we got some delicious hot chocolates to take in.
It’s an open air show, so be prepared for the weather. We had a quick downpour just before the start of the show, and it was pretty cool later on in the night. We took a small picnic blanket, a blanket, and had plenty of layers of clothes. Although I did feel a bit like a packhorse and there isn’t much room for manoeuvrer in the seating area, it did all come in handy – there’s nothing worse than an avoidable tantrum over kids being too cold or wet. As well as using the picnic blanket while the kids played (and battled) on the hill, it was good for covering the wet seats, and the rolled up blanket made a good booster seat for my 5 year old for a better view. Rain ponchos are available to buy, and there’s a gift shop with themed toys – unlike most attractions it’s very discreet and can be avoided if you don’t want the kids to go through and pester!
We also had ear defenders as one of my kids has auditory sensitivities (and the other one likes to copy!) but the sound level was just right, not too loud and even the fireworks weren’t too intense. I’d checked up beforehand as unexpected loud noises can be a big problem and it helps to know what to expect – there are some sudden bangs (towards the end of the show in the mining scene) but they were really manageable. Another factor that had crossed my mind was whether the battle scenes would be a little old for my kids, but it really is a family-friendly show and the fights scenes are really well executed and exciting without being violent.
It was a late finish and I expected the kids to fall asleep in the car on the way home, but they were buzzing and chatted non-stop the whole way. It was a real adventure, a unique experience and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Useful Info
📌 Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, DL14 7SF
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**Look out for FAMILY SAVER Discount Tickets**
– SAVE 25% OFF Standard Plus Seats when booking four or more tickets for any Kynren show.
Images of the performance were provided by Eleven Arches – use of cameras by audience members is discouraged during the show. Complimentary tickets were kindly received for this event, however all comments are open and honest.
