A RETIRED art teacher has been responsible for making more than 3,000 authentic looking weapons, shields, helmets and banners which will be used as part of the UK’s biggest outdoor theatrical performance.

Kynren is set to be staged in Bishop Auckland from next month.

Involving more than 1,000 cast members, the open air performance takes place on a 7.5 acre stage, which has its own lake and is set against the backdrop of Auckland Castle.

Mark Rossi leads a team of 29 crew members are responsible for creating the huge pile of props needed to put on the show, which inclide more than 500 weapons, 200 Roman and Viking helmets, 174 musical instruments and 150 shields.

As part of this year’s show, the props team are also building two Viking burial biers, hand carts and many other items for Kynren’s new Viking village.

Taking place every Saturday from June 29 to September 14, the show is a dramatic re-telling of 2,000 years of English history and legend, from Boudicca and King Arthur to Queen Elizabeth I and the English Civil War on to Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, and both world wars.

The cast and crew features about a thousand volunteers, with ages ranging from five to 82 years, working together with a world-class team of professionals.

As well as the human cast, the show features 33 performance horses, donkeys, sheep, geese, goats, cows and even some authentic Icelandic chickens, who will star in the new Viking village.

As well as making the props, the team is responsible for making sure all 3,000 of them are in the right place at the right time to ensure the show runs smoothly.

They also have to be on standby to quickly fix and damaged props on the spot and make sure everything is accounted for at the end of each production.