A NEW theatre operator has come forward amid calls for a Southampton theatre to be saved.

Southampton City Council has announced it is working with The Mayflower Theatre Trust as the potential operator of the Studio 144 building.

The news comes as Nuffield Southampton Theatres (NST) – which ran the NST City in the cultural quarter and the Nuffield Theatre at the University of Southampton – went into administration in May.

Last week a petition signed by more than 12,000 people was presented to city councillors as they were asked to do everything possible to save the theatres.

The city council has now announced to be working with The Mayflower Theatre Trust.

The authority said all applications were carefully considered against pre-set evaluation criteria, agreed between key stakeholders and used in the assessment rounds.

The council said the next stage requires further detailed discussion by all parties and remains confidential at this time.

But it has confirmed that a formal announcement will be made in due course.

Cllr Satvir Kaur, cabinet member for homes and culture at the city council, said: “Having gone through the process of reviewing applications, we’re delighted to be working with Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre. At the heart of our ambition is the desire to find a sustainable cultural solution that benefits our communities and the city, and we believe that the Mayflower Theatre provides that opportunity.

"We would like to thank the other applicants for their interest in Southampton, and look forward to making future announcements.”

As reported, Cllr Kaur had previously pledged to support the administrators and work with partners to find a way forward with the £1.9m funding ring fenced by Arts Council England.

Phil Gibby area director, South West, Arts Council England, said: “We are extremely pleased that an applicant has emerged from the Southampton City Council process to find an operator for Studio 144.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Southampton City Council as part of our ongoing commitment to arts and culture in the city, as well as engaging with The Mayflower Theatre Trust in further conversations.

"Arts Council have ringfenced up to £1.9 million of funding which we are committed to investing in exciting, high quality work that will benefit communities in Southampton, in line with our vision in Let’s Create.”

Michael Ockwell, chief executive of The Mayflower Theatre Trust added: “Mayflower Theatre look forward to discussing our proposal, which is to develop a creative hub that puts the community at the very heart of its operation, in detail with Southampton City Council and Arts Council England, with the aim to reopen Studio 144 in the near future.”

As reported, the NST City in Guildhall Square was billed as the “jewel in the crown” of Southampton multi-million pound Cultural Quarter.

But the news of NST going ito administration was then branded as a blow for the city.

It comes as civic chiefs are to bid for Southampton to become City of Culture 2025.