YORK star Dame Judi Dench has completed a trio of star patrons for an ambitious project to bring Shakespeare to the city.

Dame Judi, a star of stage and screen and known most recently as M in the James Bond films, has signed up as a patron for the York Shakespeare Project, along with top director Adrian Noble and acting legend Sir Antony Sher.

All three have given their personal blessing to the project which will produce all 37 of Shakespeare's plays in city centre venues over the next 20 years, starting with Richard III next March.

Frank Brogan, chair of the project, said: "They have shown their generosity and imagination by expressing delight to become patrons, and that reflects the imagination of a project which will affect everyone in York.

"These people are the best patrons we could have. It shows we are being taken seriously by the top names in Shakespeare and that they believe in what we are doing."

Dame Judi and Sir Antony worked together on the hit movie, Shakespeare in Love, in which Dame Judi clinched an Oscar for her role as Queen Elizabeth I, and all three have been connected with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Dame Judi said she would be delighted to support the project which plans to build on the community spirit of the Millennium Mystery Plays in the Minster to produce a dramatic extravaganza in York.

Sir Antony, whose interpretation of Richard III on crutches is one of the most widely acclaimed modern versions of the play, and Adrian Noble, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, said they were also delighted to lend their name to the idea.

The project's managers are currently scouring a collection of CVs after advertising for a director in a trade newspaper. There are currently about 50 local people involved in the project.

Updated: 09:28 Tuesday, July 03, 2001