Latest news with #Kynren
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rare breed of horse cherished by the late Queen joins Bishop Auckland theatre show
A rare breed of horse once beloved by the late Queen Elizabeth II, is taking part in a County Durham outdoor theatre production this summer. Nicknamed Major, the 14.1-hand pony is one of only 5,000 Highland ponies left. The Queen was a strong supporter of the breed's conservation and kept her own herd at Balmoral. Major has now joined the cast of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, appearing in Viking battle scenes alongside shire horse Cosmo. The show, starting this Saturday, July 19, is hosted in the UK's largest outdoor theatre event this summer at 11Arches Park in Bishop Auckland. Major in action as part of the show. (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd) Laurie Robinson, director of cavalry and estates, said: "Major really is big by name, and nature. "He has made such an impact on the team and is a wonderful character with his own unique personality - he's stolen a few hearts already. "Getting to work alongside the horses, and spending time with them every day, is a huge privilege for the entire cavalry team. "We get to see them flourish - onstage and off - and it really is such a joy to see them get as excited for the shows as we do." Staff at the show's cavalry squad had the job in settling Major to his new home whilst training up for the tenth anniversary summer shows. Major with Lucy Watson, from Kynren's cavalry team. (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd) Lucy Watson, part of that team, said: "Major has settled beautifully into his new role. "He is a complete natural on stage and he has been loving the attention from our volunteers. READ MORE: Dad stages Darlington run in aid of suicide charity in memory of his son County Durham schoolgirl goes 'viral' after turning up to prom in HGV Teesside comedy legend to return to smash hit series 'Last One Laughing' "We're so pleased to have him here at Kynren and we're excited for our audiences to see him and love him as much as we do." The 90-minute show features live animals and a volunteer cast, covering 2,000 years of English history. Kynren runs Saturdays from July 19 to September 13.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rare breed of horse loved by late Queen to star in Kynren
A rare breed of horse loved by the late Queen is set to take part in the UK's largest outdoor theatre event this the nickname Major, the Highland Pony has been welcomed by volunteers and crew at Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, in County newest recruit, standing at just 14.1 hands tall, will perform alongside his co-star Cosmo, one of only 200 remaining grey shires, during exciting Viking scenes. Major is one of only 5,000 Highland Ponies in existence, a breed which Queen Elizabeth II was actively involved in the conservation of. Laurie Robinson, director of cavalry and estates at Kynren said: "Major really is big by name, and nature. He has made such an impact on the team and is a wonderful character with his own unique personality – he's stolen a few hearts already."Getting to work alongside the horses, and spending time with them every day, is a huge privilege for the entire cavalry team. We get to see them flourish – onstage and off – and it really is such a joy to see them get as excited for the shows as we do."Staff at the show's cavalry squad had the job in settling Major to his new home whilst training up for the tenth anniversary summer shows. Lucy Watson, part of that team, said Major had settled "beautifully" into his new role. She said: "He is a complete natural on stage and he has been loving the attention from our volunteers. We're so pleased to have him here at Kynren and we're excited for our audiences to see him and love him as much as we do." READ MORE: Newcastle Pride 2025 parade route and times confirmed as major change made to annual march READ MORE: Newcastle Alexander Isak response speaks volumes as Hugo Ekitike transfer plan emerges The equines take centre stage throughout the 90-minute action packed show which transports audiences through 2,000 years of English history. They also star alongside a cast of animals including cattle, sheep, and geese. Kynren runs Saturdays from 19 July to 13 September.
Spectator
3 days ago
- General
- Spectator
What I'll miss about Norman Tebbit
This column comes to you from Auckland Castle, former palace and hunting lodge of the Prince Bishops of Durham. We, the Rectory Society, are here by kind permission of its saviour, Jonathan Ruffer, celebrating our 20th anniversary. Jonathan rescued the castle not from the heathen but from the Church of England. The last Anglican bishop to inhabit it was Justin Welby, in his brief year at Durham before being translated to Canterbury, but it had been run down for many years before that. Bishop Auckland is in one of the poorest parts of England but it did not occur to the Church authorities to use the heritage of this astonishing place to minister to the poor. Here is history and art and architecture and parks and gardens and the largest private chapel in Europe and the river Wear and a town at its gates, yet the place fell asleep with a Do Not Resuscitate notice attached to its recumbent body by the Church Commissioners. Under Ruffer, it has woken like a King Arthur of the north, reclaiming the leadership of this part of Christian England. First he bought Zurbaran's wonderful paintings of Jacob and his sons and then restored the dining-room which the enlightened and profoundly rich Bishop Trevor built specially for them in the 1750s. A philosemite, Trevor bought the pictures to further his support of the 'Jew Bill', which tried to confer proper citizenship rights on Jews. Then Ruffer bought the whole castle, beautified it, established a Museum of Faith which tells the story of all religion in Britain from prehistoric times to the present, installed a Spanish gallery, a museum of mining, told the history of England in an annual summer pageant called Kynren, got the gardens rewalled and blooming, and spent well over £100 million of his own money in the process. As we arrived, a party of excited schoolchildren departed, having got answers to questions you daren't ask teachers now, like: 'What was the Reformation?' As part of the entertainment, we had an hour of singing in Cosin's 17th-century chapel hymns that had been written in parsonage houses, cheating a bit at the edges. Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, Mrs C.F. Alexander, George Herbert, John Henry Newman and John Newton all got a look in, as did Cosin himself. I had held one hymn in reserve in case we had time, and we did. This was 'From Greenland's Icy Mountains', by Reginald Heber. We used to sing it with gusto at my village primary school, but it is now cancelled because it says that in un-Christianised lands, 'The heathen in his blindness bows down to wood and stone'. It is remarkably vivid about exotic climes, however, and Heber wrote it before he had been to them. He did so not in his own rectory but in that of his father-in-law, who asked him to compose a hymn for the meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel the following day. Heber did so in 20 minutes. Later, he became Bishop of Calcutta, a diocese which included all India, southern Africa and Australia. He died in 1826, sadly young, in a bath in Trichinopoly after a hot day's missionary work. Such are modern conditions that it is time for developing-world Christians to write a Heber-style hymn in reverse about how to bring the true faith to darkest England. I had decided not to include any hymns by F.W. Faber, Newman's fellow Oratorian and hated rival. To my taste, at least, they are too floridly emotional. On Monday, however, as the House of Lords debates the Hereditary Peers Bill (3rd Reading), which will expel all such peers, I shall take comfort in Faber's lines from 'There's a wideness in God's mercy': 'There is grace enough for thousands/ Of new worlds as great as this;/ There is room for fresh creations/ In that upper home of bliss.' The Court Circular reporting the state banquet for President Macron at Windsor Castle last week listed those who 'had the honour of being invited' and explained who they were. The list included 'Sir Michael Jagger (Musician) and Ms Melanie Hamrick' and 'Sir Elton John (philanthropist) and Mr David Furnish'. I wonder how those descriptions were settled. Is Sir Michael not a philanthropist? Is Sir Elton not a musician? One thing I shall miss about Norman Tebbit is his way with words. They had unusual economy and exactness. In November 1990, between the two ballots of the Conservative leadership campaign, I heard him being interviewed on the BBC. Michael Heseltine had won fewer votes than Mrs Thatcher in the first ballot but nevertheless enough to force her to resign. He therefore needed more votes to win on the second. 'They say there's an avalanche moving for Mr Heseltine,' said the BBC interviewer. Every other politician would have accepted this dead metaphor unthinkingly. Not Norman. 'First time I've heard of an avalanche going uphill,' he said. When editing this paper in the 1980s, I invited Tebbit and Jimmy Goldsmith to the same lunch. They had not met before and got on very well. Both complained about the lack of impressive figures in public life. 'We need more eelan,' said Norman in the accent of his native Ponders End. I could see that Goldsmith, who was half-French, did not understand what Tebbit was saying. 'Élan,' I muttered to him, like an interpreter at a summit. Jimmy's eyes lit up in comprehension, and agreement. The two men might have pronounced it differently, but both had it. 'Hope for the future' said the T-shirts and banners for a conference about something or other taking place in the Methodist Central Hall as I walked past last week. The pedant in me always dislikes this phrase: how can hope be for anything other than the future? But then I reflect that if the future is truly bleak, we must place all our hope in the past.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The UKs biggest live action show is back for its tenth anniversary season
Magnificent sets, mass choreography, combat, breathtaking stunts, equestrian feats and stunning pyrotechnics all take centre stage in an unmissable live action outdoor theatre production in County Durham. Celebrating its tenth anniversary season, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England takes audiences on a breathtaking journey through 2,000 years of iconic British history, myth and legend. Everything at Kynren is on an immense scale – it is performed by a thousand-strong volunteer cast and crew on a seven-and-a-half-acre stage (the scale of five football pitches) in front of an 8,000-seater tribune in the heart of Bishop Auckland. Not forgetting its memorable menagerie of 150 animals including magnificent horses, a mother and daughter donkey duo, goats, sheep and even a gaggle of geese who steal the show with their unforgettable scenes. This year's summer season, which takes place every Saturday evening from 19th July until 13th September, will also feature a special celebration of the 200th anniversary of the nearby Stockton and Darlington Railway, the birthplace of the modern railway that shaped this region and the world forever. Kynren's full-scale replica of Locomotion No.1 will be in action as it steams across the stage. New for 2025, Kynren is breathing new life into its memorable Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Parade scene with new props and costumes, fresh energy, impressive projections, innovative choreography and updated music inspired by the Victorian era to mark its tenth anniversary season. This reimagined performance, which centres around the headstrong Queen Victoria as she makes her grand entrance in a six-horse carriage, resplendent with intricate detailing and opulence, promises to captivate audiences like never before. It will now feature over 150 performers and more than 20 horses, bringing the vibrant essence of Victorian society back to life. Anna Warnecke, CEO at Kynren said: '2025 is going to be an unforgettable year for Kynren! We're celebrating our tenth anniversary season and have expanded our run to ensure even more people can be blown away by this truly special production. 'There is an incredible buzz in the park – our volunteers are so excited to be involved once more – and we're all dedicated to make 2025 the best year yet. 'We have some special surprises in store and I'm so pleased that our Viking Village experience is back again. We're ready to amaze and bring a jaw-dropping opening night in July.' The popular Viking Village offers visitors an enhanced pre-show experience with authentic sights, sounds, and interactions in a recreated settlement. Watch sparks fly at the blacksmith's forge, witness the characterful sheep, donkeys and real Icelandic chickens whose origins can be traced back to the 9th century, and practice battle cries with the magnificent Viking warriors themselves as they prepare for a raid. The spellbinding family-friendly experience begins with a local boy named Arthur, who accidentally kicks a football through a window of a hunting lodge at Auckland Palace and sets the wheels in motion for his time-travelling quest. A fascinating voyage full of rebellions, magic, majesty, celebration and heartache follows – as seen through the eyes of Arthur – shining the spotlight on Boudicca's doomed rebellion, the Viking invasions, knights jousting for glory, the Norman Conquest, King Charles' final journey to the executioner's block and the grandeur of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. From the rise of industry to the courage of communities during wartime, Kynren brings history vividly to life. The dazzling outdoor-theatre spectacular is ranked 5* on Tripadvisor and the scale and complexity of the production, from the spectacle of the costumes and the sets to the mind-blowing stunts and flawless choreography, are what make Kynren the must-see event this summer. The 90-minute performances start at sunset and end in starlight and will be taking place every Saturday night from 19th July to 13th September. Tickets cost from £30 for adults and from £20 for under 18s. Children aged 3 and under are free when sat on an adult's knee. For further information and to book tickets, visit
The Irish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I was first to see UK's biggest live action show with 1,000 time-travelling performers – it's as incredible as Disney
THERE' S a little corner of England that's bringing the epic tale of Britain to life every Saturday over the summer - and I was one of the first to watch their new show. If you've never heard of Kynren in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham , you're not alone. Advertisement 4 I went to the brand new live action show in the UK Credit: NNP 4 My kids were obsessed with every minute of it Credit: catherine lofthouse But this summer spectacle, featuring more than 1,000 performers, animals, historic vehicles, music, special effects and pyrotechnics, has been so successful over its first decade that it's expanding to include daytime shows and interactive experiences next year. Over an hour and a half, scenes that tell the tale of our homeland, history and heritage come to life across the 7.5-acre outdoor stage. The 1,000 professionally trained volunteers might be amateurs, but this incredible cast put on one of the best shows I've seen, one that really has to be seen to be believed. It's the sort of performance that you could watch time and again and still spot something new every time. Advertisement Read more on theme parks The very high standards of everything at Kynren, from the food and interactive Viking village pre-show to the powerful performance itself with historic Auckland Castle as its backdrop, means I can't wait to see its next chapter - The Victorian village from the much-loved Cornwall , which closed last year, will find a new home here. We even had a sneak peek of what's to come when the site's most recent residents, the feathery flock from its bird show, made an appearance before the main performance. As well as birds of prey, parrots flew overhead and grey crowned cranes flapped in to forage for food on the grass. Advertisement Most read in Family The Lost Feather will be one of the first five daytime shows on offer next summer. My boys aged 12 and 10 were absolutely enthralled by the evening's entertainment from start to finish. The UK attraction reopening this summer without any rides or rollercoasters – but parents say their kids love it I think you know you've found a real winner when every family member struggles to pick just one scene or moment as their favourite. The whole event is epic - from Advertisement Battle scenes, stunts, celebrations, historic moments, lines from Shakespeare - it's sometimes difficult to know where to look at there's so much to take in from one moment to the next. It was such a high-quality perfromance, I'd say it rivaled a live Disney show too. I really enjoyed seeing the steam engine chugging along complete with passengers, to mark 200 years of train travel after the launch of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in this very part of the world two centuries ago. 4 I can't wait for the new theme park next year Credit: catherine lofthouse Advertisement Drawing on the local community is a key part of If you're looking for somewhere to stay to make a weekend of it, you can't beat the Park Head Hotel, part of the Auckland Project, a regeneration scheme that's breathing new life back into the tourist spots of this historic town. Our two-bedroom suite was perfect for larger families and there were lots of little nods to Kynren at this recently refurbished 18th-century coaching inn, including quirky Quentin Blake parrot wallpaper in the toilets and a chapel stone from Auckland Castle that put my boys in mind of the story of Arthur and the sword in the stone. There won't be any rides at the new Storied Lands, but I've no doubt it will have all the wow factor it needs to keep visitors entranced, entertained and immersed in history. Advertisement suits this awe-inspiring spectacular, rooted in the past, perfect in the present and looking forward to its future . Tickets cost from £30 per adult and £20 per child - use code July10 to get 10 per cent off if you book before the end of July. 4 Tickets start from £30 Credit: North News and Pictures
