A FORMER secretary to Laurence Olivier has donated one of the final pieces in the financial jigsaw to make The Everyman theatre's £3 million revamp happen.

Julph Miers was the first person to sign up to the theatre's new Circle Of Friends scheme, which will provide some of the last £250,000 needed to fund the restoration project.

The 69-year-old has bought one of 25 special memberships, which will give her front-row tickets to the theatre's grand reopening production next year and a brass plaque carrying her name on one of the new seats, for £1,000 plus VAT.

She said: "The theatre has given me an enormous amount and I just want to do what I can to help. I'm really glad I can do my bit to help restore this brilliant little theatre."

Ms Miers, who lives in Commercial Street, spotted the appeal in the Echo.

She moved to Cheltenham two years ago after working in the National Theatre during the 1960s as Laurence Olivier's secretary.

"It was a great time," she said. "I met so many of the stars – Peter O'Toole, Michael Gambon, and of course Laurence Olivier. It gave me a love for the theatre which has stayed with me ever since."

Architect Tim Foster has already been picked to return The Everyman to its opulent origins.

Its stage and surrounding areas are the earliest surviving example of the work of Frank Matcham, who was the country's leading theatre architect at the turn of the 20th century. He also designed the Leicester Square Alhambra, Hackney Empire and King's Theatre in Glasgow.

Mr Foster, who pieced together the new theatre at Cheltenham Ladies' College, aims to replicate its 1891 design as closely as possible.

Funding for the scheme will come from a variety of sources. The borough council has given the theatre £250,000 and topped up the gift with a £1 million loan.

The Regent Street venue will contribute £760,000 of its own fundraising towards the costs and has secured £500,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund last month. It has also been given £240,000 by charities. To muster the remaining £250,000, theatre bosses came up with the Circle Of Friends scheme. To join the initiative call 01242 512515.