Kynren

The grand finale of our weekend in Durham was Kynren.

The first big surprise was the surrounding park, its in the middle of nowhere and I wasn’t expecting that much, but its modern and generally well-designed. There are shuttle buses, well marked paths and plentiful staff to guide guests, several gift shops (the merch could be better though), food stalls (very busy) and a Viking village to keep you occupied till doors open. It was crowded though, and some additional distractions need to be added for better flow, plus the bleachers for watching the show acould be improved, it’s a tight squeeze between the rows and the seats themselves are narrow and packed in.

The substitles call Kynren “an epic tale of England” and it really is, actually! An outdoor theatrical show with pyrotechnics, a volunteer cast of a thousand local performers, and a sense of fun, slightly cheesy, but generally unabashed patriotic showmanship you don’t usually see in this neck of the woods.

The show covers the highlights of roughly two thousand years of history (and myths) partially through a Northern lens. It makes sure to tell you its a mix of history and legend – mostly to put King Arthur in I suspect, and maybe to appease irritated historians. There is a slight educational veneer, a general patriotic and slightly nostalgic air, but also a few darker events explored. But really the focus is on spectale above all else: horseriders, combat stunts, flaming arrows, fireworks, costumes, dancing, an impressive sound system, clever lighting effects. The sets are what impressed me the most though, very clever use of the water, the lights, and moving stage pieces to give an sense of scale and mystery.