VOLUNTEERS have come from as far as Kent and Cardiff to join the cast of a popular open air night show.

Organisers of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, in Bishop Auckland, have been overwhelmed by the response from the local community and further afield.

Casting for the forthcoming season, which begins in July, has now been completed but due to high demand a waiting list for the 2018 season has already been started.

Eleven Arches, the charity behind the show, aimed to make cast for the second season 50 per cent bigger than last year.

There was an overwhelming response to the recruitment drive, which began in November, as people were desperate to sign up after experiencing the spectacular last year.

The cast is now full, with the exception of a select number of roles for men in combat scenes.

Anne-Isabelle Daulon, chief executive of the Eleven Arches Trust, said: “We are delighted with the response from the local community and from further afield, who have all made the decision to become an Archer for our 2017 season.

“We have volunteers travelling from as far as Kent and Cardiff to take part in the show.

“We have families that have joined together, Archers from last season have brought friends and family on board and we have over 80 teenagers involved which have formed two new teams for 2017.

She added: “Although our cast is now full and rehearsals are well underway, we are still welcoming men who would like to take on the role of a Viking, an Archer or a Roman in our combat scenes.

“We are always interested to hear from potential volunteers, and if we can’t accommodate you in your first choice of team this year, we promise that there will be an opportunity next season.”

This year, the 1,500 volunteers making up the crew and cast who will be joined on stage by performance horses, sheep, goats, cattle, geese and ducks and life-size replicas of Norman longboats, steam trains, wagons and carriages.

The volunteers have been professionally trained by experts in dance, theatrical combat, guest management, pyrotechnics and cavalry.

For anyone who is still interested in getting involved this year, there are still a handful of opportunities available in the experience team (meet and greet), go team (stage management for show or cavalry teams) as well as male roles in the show team.

Applications are also being welcomed from anyone interested in first aid, site marshalling, landscaping, estate management and event control.

For more details about these roles, visit elevenarches.org/get-involved/join-us

To avoid missing out when applications re-open this Autumn, join the waiting list and register your interest to get involved in Kynren 2018 at elevenarches.org/get-involved/join-us.

Ticket prices are unchanged, with adult tickets from £25 to £55 and children from £19 to £41. To book tickets, visit kynren.co.uk