THESPIANS and theatre lovers were out in force to get a sneak preview of the stunning new Nuffield Southampton Theatre City theatre and bar.

The special invitation only event brought the city’s arts crowd together for the launch of the Nuffield’s new season.

As previously reported four world premieres will feature in the 2018 NST season – and new shows include a play based on the bombing of the spitfire factory, the story of the SS Mendi with Cape Town company Isango Ensemble, and a musical based on hit cult film Rambo.

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But speaking to a keen audience at the Guildhall Square venue, director Sam Hodges promised not only a year of global firsts but that they would be staged with the theatre’s state of the art technical equipment and with the aim of “reconnecting people with the theatre and as a genuine catalyst for change”.

Driving the message home that Southampton is on the verge of becoming a cultural force, the carefully curated programme draws on all spheres of life - from ancient Greece to music composed by Miranda Cooper – the woman with the most UK number ones including Sugababe’s Round Round and Girls’ Aloud’s Sound of the Underground.

A new head of casting based at the venue has been charged with creating a pool of local actors living in SO, PO and BH postcodes and it will also be the base for a full youth theatre programme.

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Mr Hodges said: “I’m excited and relieved. NST City will be our production space for the shows we produce and NST Campus will be for touring shows and education.

"We’ll also be launching a new theatre studies degree there”.

And in the pipeline for the cinema is a run of ‘best of Bollywood’ screenings to be chosen by the audience and in conjunction with Awaaz FM.

Former chef to the stars Jay Geddes – who is now head chef across the Mettrick’s coffee company chain – was on hand with the canapes and said the majority of his time will now be spent at the venue while he prepares the menu for Tyrells, the in house restaurant, café and bar.

And although he said he has drawn inspiration from top London restaurants like Claridges and The Ivy, the menu will be affordable traditional English with a modern twist.

Supporters were invited to add their name to a list of ‘friends of NST’ by buying a plaque for £60 and NST staff will move into the building over the next few weeks, giving them time to get everything tested and working ready for the big opening weekend on February 16.