To tell you about kynren?

[Dancinginthedark1234]

Shamelessly using AIBU for traffic!

But I found this amazing thing called Kynren last summer.

It's a fantastic night show with fireworks, animals, sword fighting, dancing and it's performed by volunteers!

It's based in Bishop Auckland - a small town in country Durham. We were up there visiting family and stumbled across it but it was such an amazing night out and a celebration of Britain. We're planning on going again as our kids loved it! The 5 year old was sat open mouthed through the whole thing!

Everyone I've spoken to has never heard of it so I'm trying to spread the word!

It's not far from Durham and York so we're making a week of it and doing a tour of the North!

I'd recommending giving it a Google and watching the trailer to get a feel for it.
My family loved it and I imagine many of yours would too!

Kynren is not fat from me and is apparently excellent- a lot of my horsey friends volunteer to take part. A lot of the actors are local volunteers.

An forbidden corner is fabulous but a little scary /spooky for little children.

Durham city has some lovely walks around the the river and city. The cathedral is amazing. Hexham is a nice town. Northumberland coast line is spectacular- Newton by the sea is an amazing hidden gem of a beach cut off from the road which makes it safe

The North East has so many hidden gems!!!! Not going to be able yo fit it all in!
@bert3400 it's on all summer in Saturday nights, they can seat about 6000 I think, it's a big place. The website should have more details www.kynren.co.uk. And I thi k there's a few videos of what r o expect on there too.

If you're coming further North, in Newcastle city centre we have:
The Centre for Life
Discovery Museum
Great North Museum (we have Dippy visiting in May)
Seven Stories
Ouseburn Farm

Further North:
Alnwick Castle
Lindisfarne
Farne Island boat trips to see seals and puffins
Kielder Reservoir & Observatory
Various Hadrian's wall sites

But what do the animals do?

Thanks for reminding me op, I planned to book this year.
Hamsterley forest is nice.

You seem to know an awful lot about it, OP.

What do the animals do?

Forbidden corner will be quite a trek from Durham. Don't go just for that.

Op what was parking like? I might look into pub transport options if it was awful

Friends and family say its a wonderful night out but get the comfortable seats if you can.

How early do you have to be there to do that? And are there toilets, are they disgusting?

Alnwick gardens and castle are definitely worth a drive, esp on a sunny day. Beamish absolutely fab, Life centre in Newcastle expensive, busy but fun for kids. Seahouses has the best fish & chips, Holy Island very peaceful with lots of history (and I love driving the causeway- just make sure you check Tide times so you don't get stuck like the couple last week!). Whitby, Whitley Bay for old fashioned beach fun.

Love living in the North East, so much to do but we mainly take it for granted. Might need a few days out again to enjoy it all
Not actually been to Kynren yet though so one for the list this summer

@chardonnaysprettysister. I don't know that much! I've seen it once! There's an hour or so before the show you can chat to the volunteers in a farm area, and I asked about the animals as I'm an animal lover myself! The horses are used to pull carts, are risen across the huge stage at some points and there's some jousting. The other animals don't exactly perform but are in certain scenes and they mainly run across the front from what I can remember. The fireworks finale at the end is just fireworks - which were very quiet, and no animals. my Ds5 hates fireworks usually but there were very quiet which I found odd! If quiet fireworks exist they should be used at all large scale events.

I'm sorry I don't know any more about the animals, if you'd like to know more you could probably contact the organisers and ask them?

Thank you for all your recommendations ladies and gents. Looks like its gonna be a great holiday!

With relatives in Redcar I imagine you've been to Saltburn? Love the funicular and the pier, Valley gardens etc.
Preston Park museum is a hidden gem with a fab adventure playground. I also love Great Ayton, a small village with a famous ice cream shop. You can paddle in the stream on a nice day and there are nice pubs to eat in. You can also walk up Roseberry Topping for a beautiful view of the Cleveland Way.

This reads very much like advertising. We've moved it to the Days out section. (The invoice is on its way OP)

I went to Kynren two years ago, truly fabulous!

Although probably more for adults than children, the Oriental Museum, which is part of Durham University, is worth a visit. It's full of wonderful artifacts from many Asian countries, including this fantastic Chinese bed! We discovered it a couple of years ago and the entry fee was a bargainous 75 pence!

Oops , no photo!

Animals are used as part of the cast but only hanging around or running through the setting, nothing they're trained for really, nothing cruel for certain. The setting is a big field with bleachers at one side. If anyone has been to Puy du Fou in France, the medieval theme park, they acted as advisors on the first one. (I have a friend who works at Auckland Castle and another friend who was in the cast last year)

I'm not very far from kynren and have read good things but how does it actually work, do the viewers move or is it the actors that move?

Can honestly say I wasn't intending to advertise as such! I'm not involved with the show in anyway other than I went last year and just wanted to spread the word about such a good family friendly event before it disappears--as often these type of things do.

I have been to Saltburn before! I'm hoping the funny cliff lift thing is open this time! We are staying just outside Durham so the oriental museum would be an easy one to get to I presume. It Would probably be only be me though as Dh has to be dragged to museums!

I've been subscribed to the kynren email notifications for dates and prices for months and heard nothing, I was wondering if it wasn't happening this year?

@perspicaciatick I've booked via the website yesterday evening as the dates are up and you can choose seats and pay etc. It better be happening!

Ooh exciting. Thank you.

Thanks for replies re. animals.

Oh and the irony of MNHQ complaining about advertising when they constantly shove it down our throats!

It’s cruel to use animals as part of an entertainment programme with fireworks. Most animals are terrified of fireworks, silent or not.