Stephen Fry has donated money to help one of the International Youth Arts Festival’s headline acts.

The IYAF kicks off on June 29 but PurpleCoat Productions, which has been praised by actors Sir Ian McKellen and Richard Wilson, was in dire need of cash.

It will showcase a new production of Romeo and Juliet at the Rose Theatre.

A surprise donation from Fry tipped its funding past the half-way point, it said.

Director Calum Green says: “We can’t thank everyone who has donated enough. We’re hoping the donation from Stephen Fry will help show people that we are a company worth supporting.”

PurpleCoat has also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, reviving their production of Titus Andronicus, and produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

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