Nuffield theatre re-born as Southampton promotes City of Culture bid

The Mayflower Theatre Trust is to take over the Studio 144 building in Southampton, formerly home to the Nuffield Theatre which went into administration earlier this year. Southampton City Council is granting £500k over two years and a new 35-year lease to Mayflower Academy Limited, the company created to operate the theatre, which is now named MAST Mayflower Studios. The move coincides with the commercial launch of Southampton's bid for the City of Culture 2025 title, which aims to "finally give people a reason to come to Southampton rather than go through it".