Theatre Centre’s premiere of Ashmeed Sohoye’s new social drama for 14 year olds and upwards will be staged in The Studio at York Theatre Royal tomorrow and Thursday.

The first play to be commissioned by artistic director Natalie Wilson, Rigged follows the path of Nathan, who is excluded from school and spends his days in gambling arcades in defiance of an ASBO that has banned him from the town centre.

Girlfriend Sarah has aspirations to continue her education but their lives change dramatically with the discovery that she is pregnant.

“The play asks if the two of them can escape their dysfunctional families and create a secure life for themselves and their child, or is the system implacably set against them?” says Natalie, the show’s director.

She commissioned the play after being struck by Ashmeed Sohoye’s craft and poetry when attending a reading of another of his works.

“Ashmeed had just started a new position as learning mentor at a North London comprehensive school and we decided that he would observe the school culture before choosing his topic,” recalls Natalie. “Although Ashmeed is British Asian, he reported back to us that the burning issue for him was watching the white boys at school searching for identity and purpose.

“So his new play is based on his work with those students and is about the battle between expectations, choices and breaking free.”

Natalie’s cast comprises Kyle Summercorn as Nathan, Niamh Webb as Sarah, Paul Clerkin as Gary and Daisy Whyte as Kathy. Design is by Neil Irish, music by Stephen Hudson, lighting by Aideen Malone and choreography by Alesandra Seutin.

Ashmeed Sohoye studied English and Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths University and has written extensively for theatre and television. He has been literary manager for Theatre Royal Stratford East and a writers’ workshop leader at Soho Theatre before taking up his mentoring post.

Natalie Wilson was appointed artistic director of Theatre Centre in September 2007, having earlier been associate director of New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme and assistant director at 7:84 in Scotland as well as a freelance director.

“Theatre Centre develops new ideas, new voices and new collaborations to produce surprising theatre which connects with today’s young audiences, inspiring creativity and reflecting diversity,” she says. “Rigged is a compassionate and courageous play. Great debate will spark from it.”

Performances start at 7.45pm tomorrow (February 24) and 1.30pm and 7.45pm on Thursday. For tickets, ring 01904 623568 or book online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk