ChronicleLive reporter Owen Younger became a Viking for a day at Kynren's new The Storied Lands theme park in Bishop Auckland, trying his hand at sword fighting with the cast of the Land of the Vikings show.
A Day of History and Action
Having grown up fascinated by history, particularly anything involving fighting, Younger jumped at the chance to experience Viking life firsthand. After a day of activities, including watching performances and meeting the cast, he headed to the Land of the Vikings show. The arena-style setting is located in the Viking Village area, which features crafts like blacksmithing and weaving, making visitors feel transported over 1,000 years back in time.
The show, without giving too much away, is action-packed with multiple expertly choreographed fight sequences. It revolves around a Viking Clan forced to defend itself from a rival clan's attack, with a major twist. Younger was particularly impressed by the complexity of the combat and soon got the opportunity to try it himself.
Gearing Up for Battle
Younger met Billy, one of the show's leads, who would be his opponent. He was fitted with a tunic, choosing a size for maximum range of movement, along with authentic fur leg warmers, plated armour, bracers, and the iconic Viking helmet. Emerging through the wooden gate onto the historic set, he was met with cheers, feeling both nervous and excited.
Handed a sword, Younger learned simple strikes, including stabbing and swinging motions, plus a feigned backhand to the face and an evasion move. After a few run-throughs, he managed to get everything right, though not at the required speed. An extra demonstration from the skilled performers left him in awe, showing how the basics are applied in quicker, impressive sequences.
After the experience, Younger decided to leave Viking warfare to the professionals, but enjoyed his taste of behind-the-scenes action at the County Durham attraction.
