It has been announced that the former Coronation Street actress Nikki Patel will be playing Alia in Tamsin Oglesby’s play Future Conditional when it arrives at the Old Vic from the 1st September.

This new play sees Alia, a new young Pakistani refugee who has just become a member of Britain’s Education Board come up with  a radical solution for British schools in an attempt to restore the nation’s place in the world education league.

Having started her career a decade ago in Coronation Street, Patel is making the transition from television to stage for the first time. The news shows a change in direction for the Old Vic Theatre following the departure of Kevin Spacey as Artistic Director to award-winning director Matthew Warcus.

Talking about her new role Nikki Patel said: “I am honoured to be cast in a production directed by Matthew Warchus, I hope that through this production we will raise the awareness of equality of education for women around the world.’

This comedy drama will also star comedian Rob Brydon, Lucy Briggs-Owen and Matthew Aubrey.

Future Conditional will run at the Old Vic Theatre from the 1st September to the 3rd October.