THE Vagina Monologues, the cult hit about women and their sexuality, attracts celebrity performers as quickly as a charity pop recording session.

Kate Winslet, Glenn Close, Gillian Anderson, Calista Flockhart, Honor Blackman, Kerry McFadden and Christine Hamilton have all partaken in Eve Esner's show with its frank stories of such taboo topics as birth, sex, orgasms and relationships.

The very word Vagina may cause discomfort. Whereas The Sunday Times critic John Peter wrote "See it, even if you haven't got one", Hull actress Maureen Lipman recalls "telling my mother I'm starring in the Geneva Monologues and it's about a group of Swiss women in banking".

Now Sarah Greene is participating in the latest tour, visiting the Grand Opera House in York on Thursday, and for any once innocent child who recalls her days as the golden girl of Blue Peter, it may come as a surprise to hear her talking, well, if not dirty then certainly sexy.

"That hadn't even occurred to me. It's just a fact that Blue Peter was so many years ago and the point is my CV is extensive," says Sarah, TV presenter, actress and former Hull University drama student. "I knew I was going to enjoy this show. I was first asked to do it in the West End two years ago but I wasn't free as I was heavily involved in a TV show but I said 'I'd love to do it, please keep me in mind, please keep me on the books'."

Why has The Vagina Monologues become so popular among performers and audiences alike, Sarah? "What I think is clever about it is the changes of rhythm. It has humour and then a deeply poignant moment, then quiet reflection, which really hits the spot and I'm not just talking about the women in the audience but the men too.

"Maybe it's quite an edifying experience for blokes; maybe it clears up a few myths on things they're feeling unsure about."

Now enjoying the theatre tour of The Vagina Monologues, Sarah would love to do more theatre work (her parents were both members of Joan Littlewood's theatre company). "I'd give my eye teeth to do some fringe theatre in London or work at The Gate or the Lyric, and if some telly acting came up who wouldn't leap at it?" she says. "I'm still doing my TV presenting, but there is that feeling of unfinished theatre business."

Sarah Greene, Lesley Joseph and Andrea Oliver, The Vagina Monologues, Grand Opera House, York, Thursday, 7.30pm. Tickets: £15 on 0870 606 3595.

Updated: 15:29 Thursday, March 04, 2004