TICKETS for an “epic” show depicting 2,000 years of British history have gone on sale for next summer.

Eleven Arches’ £31 million open-air live action night show in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is due to open to the public next July and tickets are now on sale for 14 performances during the summer.

The show – which is called Kynren: an epic tale of England – will depict 2,000 years of British history, taking the audience on a journey from Roman times and Viking invasions to the industrial revolution and the Second World War.

Set in the loop of the River Wear against the backdrop of Auckland Castle, the show will run across the summer months to nightly audiences of up to 8,000, with each performance involving more than 1,000 volunteers.

Anne-Isabelle Daulon, Eleven Arches' chief executive, said: “This show will be the biggest spectacle the UK has seen since the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.

"It will be a truly national event with a distinctly local flavour, with the performances showcasing epic chapters in our history as seen through the eyes of the North-East.

“Each performance can cater for an audience of up to 8,000 and I would urge people to take advantage of the early bird offer to avoid disappointment.”

The shows, which start on July 2, are expected to attract around 112,000 visitors next summer, who will contribute an estimated £4.75 million to the local economy.

Organisers are hoping to attract visitors from all over the country. A trailer for Kynren, which was filmed over four days and used more than 170 actors, was aired on TV for the first time on Sunday, November 15, in a primetime slot between X Factor and I’m A Celebrity.

Tickets for the show are priced £25-£55 for adults and £19-£41 for children. Early bird discounts are available, with a ten per cent reduction on tickets bought by January 31, 2016.

For ticket bookings visit www.kynren.co.uk. For travel trade and group bookings, e-mail groups@Kynren.co.uk and for corporate bookings, e-mail enquiries@Kynren.co.uk.

For further information on the show, visit www.elevenarches.org