The haunting sound of the Northumbrian pipes will echo across Kynren – The Storied Lands this summer after legendary folk musician Kathryn Tickell joined the creative team behind one of the attraction's spectacular new productions.

Widely regarded as the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian smallpipes, the internationally acclaimed composer and performer has recorded specially commissioned passages for Legend of the Wear, an ambitious new live show inspired by the famous Lambton Worm myth.

Her distinctive playing will be woven into the original orchestral score, specially composed for Kynren – The Storied Lands and recorded by the world-renowned BBC Concert Orchestra.

The collaboration brings together one of the North East's most celebrated musical figures with the cinematic soundscape created for the UK's first live action show park, which opens in County Durham next month.

The Legend of the Wear transforms a vast lake into the stage for dramatic water stunts and a retelling of one of the region's most enduring legends.

Audiences will hear echoes of the traditional folk ballad The Lambton Worm, alongside specially created water-based sound effects and the unmistakable voice of the Northumbrian pipes.

Kathryn, who lives in Northumberland and whose father's family came from County Durham, first took up the pipes at the age of nine and has spent decades sharing the music and stories of the region with audiences around the world.

Her career has seen her collaborate with artists including Sting, Jacob Collier, The Chieftains, Evelyn Glennie and The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

Her contribution forms part of a wider original score created by composers Samuel Pegg and Martin Batchelar and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra under Associate Conductor Jérôme Kuhn.

“From the very beginning, we wanted the music for Kynren – The Storied Lands to feel every bit as ambitious and world-class as the shows themselves,” said Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren.

“These are entirely original compositions, created specifically for our productions and recorded by one of the world's most respected orchestras.

“The music plays a huge role in transporting audiences emotionally into these stories, whether that's the soaring spectacle of The Lost Feather or the elemental drama of The Legend of the Wear.

“To have Kathryn's extraordinary talent bringing the authentic sound of Northumbria into the score makes this even more special and strengthens the connection between the show and the landscape and legends that inspired it,” she added.

Kathryn has been familiar with the story of the Lambton Worm for all of her life.

“I grew up listening to my father singing the song and, in fact, he still sings it now,” she said.

“The story is woven into the folklore of this region, and the Northumbrian pipes are part of its musical identity, so it has been wonderful to contribute to a project that celebrates both.

“There is something very special about hearing these traditional sounds alongside a full orchestra and seeing them become part of a contemporary retelling of one of the North East's great legends,” she added.

Kynren – The Storied Lands opens on 18th July and features five large-scale live shows and immersive experiences inspired by history, myth and legend.