Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre has been handed a boost in its drive to raise £3m for a proposed renovation after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) agreed to contribute £500,000.

The theatre's auditorium is set to undergo a major restoration scheme, which the BBC reports is due to be carried next summer and will see the venue close for a 17-week period. Everyman Theatre chief executive Geoffrey Rowe told the BBC: "When you're three-quarters of a million away from your target, it seems an awful long way and given the current climes where are you going to possibly get it from?

"The fact that we've got this half million gets us in sight of the finishing line and I think that we can raise [the remainder]." The scheme will also include improvements to front-of-house areas, work to bring the dress circle boxes back into use and the introduction of a three-year education programme.