Kynren, the historic spectacular set against the backdrop of Auckland Castle, makes a dramatic return to the outdoor stage in the summer of 2024.

Established in 2014 by registered charity 11Arches, set up by philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer, and created with an initial investment of £35m in donations, its first production premiered in July 2016 and proved to be a sell-out summer success.

It is presented on a seven-and-a-half-acre stage, by a cast and crew of 1,000 volunteers entertaining audiences with epic tales from across 2,000 years of British history and mythology.

Kynren is estimated to have attracted almost 400,000 visitors to Bishop Auckland since that opening performance, with up to 40-per cent said to be from outside the North East, and many of them from across the globe.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Fireworks finale to Kynren performance in 2023

Cancelled amid the Covid crisis in 2020, it returned to the Flatts Farm site the following year, with a new addition of a daytime equestrian stunt show.

Another successful summer season in 2023 brought a 35-per cent increase in ticket sales an earned rave reviews, including from tv presenter Robson Green, who featured the season's final performance on his BBC2 series Weekend Escapes.

He said it was an unforgettable event, describing it as, “a comfort blanket for the soul”.

Among several accolades, it received the Travellers’ Choice Award for 2023 from TripAdvisor, along with many positive reviews of the show spectacular.

Tickets are already available for the 2024 live action displays, with an extra date added to the schedule. 

It makes a total of eight scheduled performances of the 90-minute shows, to be staged between Saturday July 27 and Saturday September 14.

All begin in lingering daylight, but end in darkness, with ticket-holders granted pre-show access to the 11Arches grounds to sample food and drink from a range of outlets.

Further information is available via www.11arches.com/tickets/kynren, the event website.