NEXT week's show by Shipton Theatre Club, The Card, would qualify for three categories in a game of charades.

First there was the book by Arnold Bennett; next, Ronald Neame's 1952 film starring Alec Guinness, Petula Clark, Glynis Johns and Valerie Hobson; then, the 1973 musical with music by Tony Hatch, lyrics by Hatch and Jackie Trent and a script by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall.

That '73 show, incidentally, marked Cameron Mackintosh's debut as a musical producer and featured John Savident - now butcher Fred Elliott in Coronation Street - in the role of Duncalf, the solicitor.

From November 27 to December 1, at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre in York, Shipton Theatre Club presents the York premiere of the 1994 version of The Card: the revival that features almost a complete set of new lyrics by a rising star of British musical theatre, Anthony Drewe, to complement Hatch's music and a revised script by Waterhouse and Hall, the Yorkshire duo famous for Billy Liar.

This musical comedy charts the meteoric rise up Potteries society of "the cheekiest man in town", Denry Machin. The Card of the title, he makes giant strides from washerwoman's son to bright young clerk to Lord Mayor of Bursey, and fame and fortune, through his ingenious deceptions.

En route he is inspired by three women: the alluring and influential Countess of Chell (to be played by Brenda Sanger); warm and vivacious dance teacher Ruth Earp (Perri Barley); and placid, homely councillor's daughter Nellie Cotterill (Alicia Roberts). Only time will tell where his marital destiny lies.

Director Robert Readman's production marks the Shipton debut of Callum O'Connell, who graduates to his first lead role at the age of 21 after performing for Rowntree Youth Theatre, Rowntree Musical Theatre and York Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.

He will not be suffering from big butterflies on opening night, in contrast to his schoolboy stage bow at Market Weighton Secondary School. "This time I'm quite settled into the role of Denry Machin but when I did Hello Dolly at school, I was so nervous on the first night, I felt physically sick. Once I was on stage the nerves went but I wouldn't want to go through the hour beforehand ever again!"

Meanwhile, Sandy Nicholson is thrilled to be playing Denry's mother, the loud and opinionated, hard and down-to earth Mrs Machin. "I'd been with the Dunnington Players for ten years but it's singing that I want to do now, so I joined Shipton Theatre Club in June of last year, and this is a wonderful role to play: she's very funny with a very good sense of humour," says Sandy.

"What I've liked most about doing The Card is that it's a chorus-line show, where everyone is involved and not just a few main characters."

See the results of those rehearsal endeavours next week, when all tickets for Tuesday cost £5 and seats for the rest of the run are £7, concessions £6. To book, ring 01904 764429 or York Theatre Royal box office, 01904 623568.