DESCRIBED as a hymn not a history lesson, the spectacular open-air live show Kynren was performed for the first time on Saturday night.

More than 100 journalists and special guests were treated to the first full run-through of the eagerly-awaited epic tale of England at Eleven Arches, in Bishop Auckland.

Featuring a 1,000-strong cast of volunteers, dozens of animals and impressive pyrotechnics, lighting and water effects the dress rehearsal was completed without any obvious major glitches.

The show, which opens to the public next month, takes the audience on a journey through history from a North-East perspective. Never before have events as diverse as the Viking invasion, the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the Battle of Stamford Bridge and Durham Miners’ Gala shared the same stage.

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The show, which was played out before a backdrop of Auckland Castle and a full moon, is a first for the UK, although it evokes memories of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

Accompanied by specially-composed music from Nathan Stornetta, the volunteers put on an unforgettable show which they hope will see people come from far and wide to experience.

The £31 million Kynren project is modelled on Puy du Fou, in France, and is part of philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer’s vision to regenerate Bishop Auckland which also includes ambitious multi-million pound plans at Auckland Castle.

Before the show Anne-Isabelle Daulon, chief executive of Eleven Arches, admitted it had been a rollercoaster journey but they were proud of what had been achieved.

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She said: “Kynren is very much to be experienced. It hasn’t been a straight road, lots of ups and downs. What has been achieved in the last three years is incredibly ambitious.

“The real heroes are the Archers (volunteers). I personally don’t believe in miracles, but what I do believe in is people working together to create miracles.

“They have been pushed to their limits and they have all realised they can be pushed to do something they have never done before.”

Before the show, she told the audience Mr Ruffer had never planned to buy Auckland Castle and the Zurbaran paintings but that this land created a visitor destination.

She said: “I think this is a regional game changer and that is what intrigued us in the first place.

“Kynren and Puy du Fou are built on the same premise. It is a celebration of regional and national heritage.”

A team from Puy du Fou, led by artistic director Nicolas de Villiers, have been instrumental in the creation of Kynren. Before the show, Mr de Villiers told the assembled audience they were about to enjoy a hymn, not a history lesson.

The show having closed to rapturous applause, Mr Ruffer, who was determined to make his dream a reality, said: “It is terrific. The thing I love is that from the beginning to the end it keeps you on your toes and keeps you in suspense.

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“This is the community working together and I have seen how it has changed the area in France and I want Kynren to change the way the county here feels about itself.”

Eleven Arches is a charitable trust and all profits will be reinvested into the show to make improvements and give people reasons to revisit.

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Tickets are selling fast and so far 80 per cent have been snapped up by those living in the region, however the rest will see visitors from as far afield as China, New Zealand, South Africa and the US.

There will be 14 shows throughout the summer starting on July 2 with audiences of up to 8,000 people at each performance.

To book, visit kynren.co.uk or call 0844-5811-1252.