Organisers of a spectacular open-air live action night show are calling for more volunteers to get involved, and be a part of a lasting legacy for the region.
From performing as Roman and Viking soldiers or shooting flaming arrows as an archer to taking on key backstage and customer experience roles, opportunities are still available for people from the local community to be a part of Eleven Arches’ ‘Kynren – an epic tale of England’, which launches in Bishop Auckland on 02 July.
Kynren tells the story of 2000 years of British history as told through the eyes of the North East and will run for 14 shows throughout the summer months. With 1000 volunteers already signed up to undertake every aspect of being cast and crew there is still enough time for new recruits to be trained by a team of international experts to hone new talents and become part of this year’s shows.
Specific volunteer opportunities are available for men with a sense of rhythm to transform into soldiers and take part in marching sequences, small pieces of choreography and combat scenes. Additionally, female recruits are being sought who have a keen interest and experience in dance to take part in more choreographed elements of the show.
The Experience Team is also seeking frontline volunteers who will provide a warm welcome to audiences of up to 8000 due to attend each of the shows. A key part of the customer experience, volunteer’s responsibilities will include ushering, answering audience queries about the show and the local area, way finding and car park support. There are also backstage opportunities available within the Technical Team involved with audio and lighting for those with some experience in the field, while creative types can offer their services to assist with prop making and set piece creation or to operate the prop stores and workshop.
Volunteers are required to be aged 16 or over and available for a minimum of 10 of the 14 shows which largely take place on Saturdays between July and September. They will also need to commit to attending rehearsals scheduled on weekends between now and July as well as some refresher sessions during the week.
Paul Stockdale, Head of Community Liaison at Eleven Arches, said: “Kynren presents a unique opportunity for people from the community to undertake professional training from experts in everything from choreography to combat and pyro to horse-riding, and play a part in delivering a world-class event that they can take real ownership for. There is still time for people to undergo the relevant training, but now really is the time to take that leap of faith and sign up. We are looking for people with lots of energy, enthusiasm, willingness to learn and a commitment to attend key dates.”
Kynren will take audiences on a captivating journey from Roman Times to the Viking invasions, the industrial revolution and Second World War with mass choreography, pyrotechnics, spectacular lighting and water effects.
Volunteers can sign up via the Eleven Arches website at www.elevenarches.org/join-us/