AMANDA Oxley last appeared on stage at the age of 11, all of 28 years ago. On Tuesday, however, she makes her debut for the Shipton Theatre Club, playing the leading lady in Robert Readman's production of Charles Strouse's musical comedy, Bye Bye Birdie.

"My children, Francesca and Olivia, have been involved in the group - Francesca played the title role in Annie in 1999 - and they encouraged me to audition for a part in the chorus," Amanda recalls.

Rather than the chorus line, she found herself being chosen to play the prized role of secretary Rose Alvarez, a New Yorker with Spanish roots. "I haven't been on stage since I did Becky in Tom Sawyer when I was at Woldgate School, in Pocklington, so it's a bit of a shock to be cast as Rose. It's quite daunting!" she says.

How daunting? "Well, I did take some persuading - I took some persuading even to do the audition, but it's been really enjoyable in rehearsals and I'm glad I've done it," Amanda says.

"I've been doing lots of singing in the car, and I've had lots of support from Francesca and Olivia - and plenty of advice!"

Joining Amanda in the spotlight next week will be Dan Hield. Last year, he memorably donned wig and dresses to play Josephine, the Tony Curtis role, in Shipton Theatre Club's production of Some Like It Hot and now he is quickly following up his performance as the slippery Jingle in Rowntree Musical Theatre's Pickwick with another contrasting role, as a mummy's boy.

In a story of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back but with a twist, Dan plays the 'boy', Albert Peterson, songwriter and manager of precocious rock'n'roll talent Conrad Birdie in 1959 New York. Amanda's Rose is the 'girl', Albert's long-time secretary, who has waited eight years to settle down with him and is still no nearer that target, with too much competition to win his full attention.

Analysing Albert, Dan says: "He's a very sad character because he's caught in this relationship triangle. He's torn between his mother, a Jewish mother to beat all Jewish mothers, his work for Conrad, and Rose, but he finally liberates himself when he stands up to his mother. So I might be 'losing' the glasses at the end!"

Dan and Amanda have enjoyed "the crack" of rehearsals, developing their roles the more comfortable that they have become with working with each other for the first time. "We've even done extra rehearsals for our dance routines at the end of the show, and Amanda has been very patient with my dancing," says the tall Hield. "I've got two left feet: when I go on the beach I wear flip-flips!"

Amanda, meanwhile, has only a few days to go before the curtain rises on her stage 'comeback'. Will she then withdraw again for another 28 years, or might she become a Shipton regular? "Ask me after the show if I want to do more!" she says, but the smile that accompanies this evasive answer suggests she will return sooner rather than later.

Bye Bye Birdie, Shipton Theatre Club, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, February 20 to 24, 7.30pm. Tickets: first night £5, then adults £7, concessions £6; ring 01904 623568.