Theme park · Bishop Auckland, UK
Kynren – The Storied Lands
Blue sky development, concept design and 3D visualisation for the UK's first live-action show park.
- Location
- Bishop Auckland, United Kingdom
- Size
- 550,000 sqm
- Dates
- Sept 2023 to present
- Client
- 11Arches
- Our role
- Creative direction · Master planning · Artwork
- Phases
- Blue sky · Concept · Spatial · Schematic
- Status
- Open since July 2026
01 · The brief
A journey through time, crafted by light, myth and community
The charity 11Arches had spent a decade proving something unusual in Bishop Auckland: that live performance at cinematic scale, Kynren: An Epic Tale of England, performed by a volunteer cast of a thousand, could become a destination in its own right.
Their next ambition was bigger. In partnership with 11Arches and a consortium of local creatives, Roadtrip Studios set out to transform the night show into an all-new daytime park where the rich history of England comes to life through its legendary stories, from the raw energy of Viking clashes to the quiet drama of Victorian streets, all set against the backdrop of Auckland Castle.
The question was clear: how will guests interact, feel and live within these stories, not just observe them? Our answer lay in story-driven design, where every path, performance and artefact serves a narrative larger than itself. Visitors don't watch history, they inhabit it.
02 · Our journey
Architects of emotion
As lead experience designers we crafted the park's emotional arc, so each era resonates with intimacy and awe.
- 01 Spatial storytelling Non-linear pathways let visitors "choose their era", with hidden interactions such as decoding runes to unlock bonus content.
- 02 Tech as subtle magic Immersive soundscapes and projection mapping create the illusion of magic and myth throughout the experience.
- 03 Tangible interactions The park isn't just about what you can see. It's about what you can do. Wax rubbing, drums, playgrounds alongside light, sound and projected cause-and-effect displays.
- 04 Community as cast Local craftsmen build modular sets combining historical and modern techniques, so the park's soul reflects Durham's heritage.
- 05 Living history A Viking settlement built for battle re-enactments, a lake staged for the Lambton Worm, a 3,600-seat arena raised like a bird's nest for a flight show of 250 birds, the gas-lit streets of a Victorian imaginarium.
03 · Designing for every explorer
Conservation, stimulation, expression
- Conservation Curated Animal Trainer Tours open the backstage of Kynren's live shows, the lives and protection of the park's many animal inhabitants, and the lengths Kynren goes to for them.
- Stimulation A gamified village storyline lets guests interact with the park's many characters and change the narrative landscape daily through quests, clues and immersive theatre.
- Expression A communal Waterfall invites guests to capture their reflection and send it into the park, as it grows, these images appear back within the water, showing the many stories made within the storied lands.
04 · The destination
Open since 18 July 2026
Kynren – The Storied Lands is the UK's first live-action show park, named by Time Out among the best new things to do in 2026. Phase one delivers five monumental shows and immersive experiences against landscaped historical backdrops, with future phases already announced.
For a studio whose name is a promise about the journey, there is no better proof than a destination you can now buy a ticket to.
Our role on the journey
- 01 Bluesky
- 02 Concept
- 03 Spatial
- 04 Schematic
- 05 Build (not in scope on this project)
Credits
- In partnership with Daniel Kerscher
- Client: 11Arches (Charity No. 1156563)
