The gin and tonics are in full flow and Donna Summer is playing on the music centre.

Beverly and Laurence have got the neighbours round for drinks – and nobody is going to leave unscathed.

Mike Leigh’s biting satire of suburban pretensions has become a modern classic, and Hannah Waterman is relishing her role as monstrous hostess Beverly.

Following a triumphant West End run, the acclaimed revival of Leigh’s comedy comes to Bradford next week. Beverly and estate agent husband Laurence have invited round new neighbours Tony and Ange and nervous divorcee Sue, who is twitchy about the party her teenage daughter, Abigail, is throwing a few doors down.

As Beverly plies her guests with copious amounts of alcohol, nibbles and Demis Roussos songs, the drinks party descends into a drunken tragedy.

Beverly is deliciously cruel, selfish, shallow and manipulative – but Hannah reckons she has some redeeming features.

“There’s a vulnerability with her, I think she’s lonely,” says Hannah, 38. “She’s trapped in suburbia, in a loveless marriage. Laurence is cruel to her, it’s a marriage in crisis. The Beverly we meet is of the making of what’s gone before.

“You do get this feeling throughout the play that something awful is going to happen. The first act is funnier, then the second act gets quite dark – but funnily enough, the second act has been getting more laughs.”

With all the action set in Beverly and Laurence’s living-room, the actors are on stage practically the whole time. Hannah says playing Beverly is “exhausting”.

“The pace is quick and it just doesn’t stop, and all her movements are very precise. It’s the most physically demanding role I’ve ever had,” she says. “It’s been a real baptism of fire for me, as it’s the first theatre role I’ve taken on since having my baby, but I love it. It’s a role I really wanted, I didn’t think I’d get it but I auditioned anyway.”

The original production – on stage before becoming immortalised as the acclaimed 1977 television play starring Alison Steadman – was improvised.

“It felt quite strange approaching something that was initially improvised, but the language is perfect, and that stays the same. I say thankyou to Alison Steadman for making this such a great part for future actresses to play,” smiles Hannah.

Despite being a 1970s setpiece, Abigail’s Party has an enduring appeal and remains a must-see theatrical experience. Hannah says diehard fans have been turning up on the tour in Beverly dresses.

“People have cheesy pineapple parties and get into character, it’s hilarious,” she says. “There were quite a few ‘Beverleys’ in Brighton; you could hear them muttering the lines before I said them. If I ever forget my lines I know that someone in the audience will be able to help me out!”

Hannah is best known for playing Laura Beale, the nanny who ended up marrying her boss, Ian Beale, in EastEnders. Other TV credits include New Tricks, in which she joined her father, Dennis Waterman.

More recently she has appeared in Doctors, as DI Collier, and completed her first film, Patient 17. She also appeared on BBC1’s Just The Two of Us, singing with Marti Pellow, an experience she’d rather forget.

“I don’t think musical theatre is calling me – not unless it’s a character part that doesn’t require any singing,” she laughs. “Television can be very demanding, particularly soap, so I’m enjoying being back in the theatre.”

l Abigail’s Party runs at the Alhambra from Monday to May 11. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.