June 2015 - Eleven Archesis delighted to unveil the 365 day count down until the first performance of the UK's biggest open-air night show, featuring the magnificent Chapel of Auckland Castle as a majestic illuminated backdrop for a breath-taking spectacle in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. 

Bringing to life 2,000 years of Britain's History through the eyes of the North East, from the Roman times to post World War II, Eleven Arches will entertain up to 8,000 visitors per show across a 7 ½ acre stage with a cast and crew made up of 1,000 professionally trained volunteers.

Building on the success of London 2012 and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, County Durham will welcome the next chapter of volunteer-led power entertainment and boasts the participation of Steve Boyd as Creative Director - Volunteer Activation (he who masterminded inter alia the public involvement of every Olympics since 1992, and the aforementioned UK based ceremonies).

Taking inspiration from its artistic partner, Puy du Fou, Eleven Arches is modelled on Puy du Fou's own night show in France, which has been seen by an international audience of more than 10million people in the last 37 years; Eleven Arches–a registered charity- is also hoping for similar success as its French

counterpart to radically change the fortune of the area with the investment that visitors from around the UK and abroad will bring during their visit to County Durham to watch the 90-minute evening show.

Plans also include the creation of the Eleven Arches Academy which will train 300 young volunteers annually in the key skills needed to put on the Night Show and ensure its longevity and professional quality as well as building a reputation for producing some of the most talented young people in Britain in the performing arts sector.

Notes to Editors:

The Eleven Arches project will stage up to 30 shows every summer, with £3million already committed ahead of planning, and a further £24million within 12 months.  Workshops will be set up to create sets, props and 1,843 costumes.  Eleven Arches is reaching out to local colleges and training organisations to train its 1,000 volunteers whose culmination of 114,000 hours of volunteering and intergenerational activities will foster social cohesion. 

Eleven Arches is part of the extraordinary vision of philanthropist and City financier, Jonathan Ruffer, who is personally driven by the principle that “what people think is the determinant of their welfare, not primarily what they do. The enemy of transforming thought is the monochrome quality of lives lived in adversity, and the key is to find a circuit-breaker which can lift a community out of self-doubt.”

 The Eleven Arches concept has been modelled on the phenomenal success of Puy du Fou, an award-winning entertainment company (Applause Award Nov '14) who, over the course of 37 years, has completely transformed the fortunes of the Vendee region, through the delivery of a night show that involves 3,500 volunteers from the local community. Puy du Fou welcomes over 1.9million visitors per year in its park between April and September. 

Puy du Fou is Eleven Arches' artistic partner, and it is the first time their concept is developed beyond the original site.  Puy du Fou has brought its vast experience to bear in setting with Eleven Arches the show's artistic calibre, from the storytelling to the execution of the final production.  A permanent team is on site at Auckland Castle as testimony to the partnership. 

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Eleven Arches Key Facts:

Eleven Arches Charity:

-          £27million charitable scheme, full funded privately and part of a £90million charitable enterprise based around Auckland Castle led by Jonathan Ruffer

-          £3million already committed, £24million within 12 months

-          All profits will be reinvested to keep the show at its best year after year

-          Profits will also be used to fund the charity's education and community development initiatives with a view to be a catalyst for social and economic regeneration in the North East for generations to come

Eleven Arches: The Show:

-          Set in the grounds of Auckland Castle, a night show spectacular recounting 2,000 years of British history

-          Powered by 1,000 volunteers and 56 horses

-          Volunteers will be trained to fulfil roles as diverse as cast, technical crew, pyrotechnics, security, first-aid, landscape, costume, set & prop making, visitor services, horse care and horse riding

-          Audience capacity of 8,000 and a 7 ½ acre stage

-          Debuting in June 2016, Eleven Arches will stage up to 30 night shows annually

Eleven Arches and Tourism:

-          Overnight visitors drawn from around the country are projected to spend £157 per head per day vs the current £19 per head per day from day trippers in County Durham

-          £9million offsite tourist expenditure will translate in 220 new jobs as a direct result

-          Regional tourist attractions in the vicinity will be beneficiaries of those enjoying a short-stay circuit

-          The economic impact on the region of tourism is set to snowball

-          Overall effect of Eleven Arches is expected to have a total net impact of 390 FTE jobs at local and 492 at regional level

Puy du Fou Fast Facts:

-          The official partner for Eleven Arches, winner of Applause Award Nov 14, the most prestigious theme park industry award worldwide

-          3,400 volunteers in the Vendee region involved in the production of the night show

-          37 year track record, whose night show has been seen by an international audience of over 10million

-          1.9million visitors per year in the Park, employing 1,380 staff, including 150 permanent staff

-          €193m in overall economic benefits for the region every year and 3,300 jobs in the area

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Media Contacts:
Nicky Bannister (tel: 07976 646 807 / nicky@bannisterblake.com)
Caroline Blake (tel: 07721 859 847 / caroline@bannisterblake.com)
Bannister Blake PR