Had cyclist Beryl Burton been born 50 years later, she would have been a household name and regarded as probably one of our greatest sportspeople.

Instead she is a virtual unknown. And this is despite overcoming childhood illness to claim 90 domestic championships, seven world titles and countless records including a national women’s 12-hour time trial that was better than the men’s equivalent for two years.

The extraordinary life of Beryl Burton will be told on stage in London for the first time at Kingston’s Rose Theatre from March 8 to 19.

Actress Rebecca Ryan, famous for roles in shows including Shameless and Waterloo Road, plays a number of characters.

She said: “She was an absolutely incredible woman. I remember when I first read the script and I was just in disbelief thinking ‘how have I not heard of this woman before?’ I felt a bit embarrassed.

“Today she would be a superstar. She would be a household name and everyone would know her. Very few people do know who she is considering what she has done.”

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Perhaps Beryl’s relative anonymity was because cycling did not have such a high profile when she was at her height in the 1960s and 1970s, or perhaps it was because she was a woman.

Either way, hers is an inspiring story. Born in 1937, she suffered from rheumatism as a child and spent 15 months in hospital and recovery.

She was introduced to the sport by her husband Charlie, whom she married in 1955. Within two years she was one of the top female riders in the country, winning silver in the national 100-mile individual time trial.

She went on to achieve incredible things on her bike while raising a daughter, Denise, who herself was a top cyclist and won bronze at the 1975 world individual pursuit championship. Beryl passed away aged 58 in 1996.

Rebecca, 24, said: “When I read it, I myself thought ‘I need to do something’.

“It gives you so much encouragement and shows you where hard work and dedication can get you. She is so inspirational. She definitely inspired me.”

The talented writer behind the play is Maxine Peake, the actress who has starred in Silk, The Theory of Everything and wowed as on stage as Hamlet.

There is maybe a parallel to be drawn between Maxine and Beryl, both achieving sensational things in their field but hardly receiving the recognition they deserve.

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Rebecca, who shared the screen with Maxine in Shameless, said: “She is such an amazing, talented woman. I worked with her for about three or four years while we did Shameless together and she is unbelievable.

“She took me in and looked after me. She is such a great woman and I do think she is underappreciated. She really is absolutely amazing.”

The show follows Beryl’s life from childhood until the end of her life and demands a lot from its four-strong cast, who play multiple characters and spend a lot of time on their bikes on the stage.

Rebecca said: “It is funny, it is moving at times – sad, happy. It goes through all of the emotions. It is lovely to see her family life as well. Her daughter comes up and her life with Charlie – you get to capture all of that.

“You get an over-all well-rounded story of Beryl. By the end you feel like you really know Beryl and what she was about and know her family life.”

Beryl is at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, from March 8 to 19. Tickets cost from £8. Go to rosetheatrekingston.org or call 020 8174 0090.