Growing up in Ilford, Cathy Murphy knows the streets of Martina Cole’s books. Now a 42-year-old mother-of-two, she is about to tread the boards in the first ever stage adaptation of one of the Essex crime author’s best-selling novels. Two Women premieres at the Theatre Royal Stratford East tonight.

“I have always loved her books,” The House of Elliot and EastEnders actress swoons.

“She is from around my area and she writes about the roads I know. One of her books, The Ladykiller has freaked me out ever since because it’s all in my manor and the bloke in the story reminds me of my accountant, I still can’t look him in the eye. She is a phenomenal writer.”

An explosive thriller of betrayal, heartbreak, justice and redemption, Two Women tells the contrasting stories of Susan, born into a working class East End family during the height of gangland violence (played by Cathy) and Matilda, a bored housewife used to a life of privilege and money (Laura Howard). Both imprisoned for killing their husbands, the harrowing play, which was adapted for stage by Patrick Prior and is directed by Ryan Romain, tackles issues of domestic abuse, women’s rights and how society judges women from different backgrounds.

Speaking about her character, Cathy, who lives in Seven Kings with her partner Brandon and their two young daughters, gushes: “She is gorgeous, I want to kidnap her and take her home. She is one of those people in the wrong place and wrong time.

“She didn’t choose her awful parents, she starts a relationship with a charming man who turns out not to be so charming and her life is just a serious of terrible events. And yet she stays true, she doesn’t become horrible and nasty, she remains strong, stoic and loyal.”

With such a dramatic and intense subject matter, I wonder how the ensemble cast, which also includes Marc Bannerman, Victoria Alcock and Sally Oliver, are coping with rehearsals.

“There is a lot of gallows humour, I have laughed myself stupid and cried myself stupid. But because Martina is such a brilliant writer there is light and shade, there are uplifting moments and characters that breath life and humour into the action.”

Her first stage role in a decade, Cathy, who recently appeared in the TV drama Shameless, plays Susan from a teenager up to her late 30s, “which is quite a challenge”, but it’s challenge she is revelling in none the less.

“I love theatre, it makes you feel you can act again, the adrenaline, the buzz, it really stretches you as an actor. But I’m nervous as hell. You only get one chance, it’s not like TV, with theatre there are no excuses.”

Two Women runs at Theatre Royal Stratford East, from Friday, February 19 to Saturday, March 20. Tickets: 020 8534 0310 or www.stratfordeast.co.uk