CULT film-maker Michael Armstrong, whose 1969 horror movie Mark of The Devil is still banned from British cinemas, is keen to attract film fans to his stage production of August Strindberg's "erotic psychological shocker", Miss Julie, next week in York.

"Film is in their lives, so are video and DVD, but I believe theatre is the most exciting medium of all when it works well," says Armstrong. "In film, you can have bullet after bullet and no one bats an eyelid but all you have to do in theatre is produce a gun and everyone gasps."

Written in 1888, Miss Julie is set on the night of Midsummer's Eve, when the aristocratic Miss Julie intrudes on her servants' festivities and embarks on a sexual cat-and-mouse game with one of her father's servants, Jean: a game that culminates in sex.

In the aftermath, Jean's class-ridden ambitions come to the fore as the sado-masochistic sexual and psychological encounter between mistress and servant takes their game playing to a terrifying and deadly conclusion.

"Theatre is all about emotion so I try to make Miss Julie an emotional rollercoaster, especially because audiences were shocked that it was such a naturalistic play when it was first performed in 1888," says Armstrong. "At that time there were stage instructions that the set design must have pots and pans and the lead actress should not be frightened to turn her back on the audience.

"Audiences were just not used to Strindberg's emotional and psychological disorientation, and we want to return theatre to how it was then, where you can surprise people."

Surprise them, yes, but they will come forewarned or at least titillated by the graphic poster that states: "You've NEVER seen it like this before! This production contains nudity, violence and explicit sex scenes and is unsuitable for persons under the age of 16 and people of nervous disposition".

Mention of "nervous disposition" leads back inevitably to Armstrong's piece de resistance, his garish film Mark Of The Devil, which was refused a certificate in 1969 and never shown subsequently at a British cinema. Although granted a video release in the 1980s it was hastily withdrawn, until an edited and cut British video version was approved in 1993 with an 18 certificate.

The film, full of scenes of torture and brutality, was famously distributed with sickbags for the audience when it first opened in America. "I have one of those bags framed - empty and unused of course! - which says something like 'Guaranteed to make you throw up' on it," recalls a chortling Armstrong.

Rest assured, sickbags will not be necessary at the Grand Opera House next Tuesday and Wednesday. Nevertheless, Armstrong promises stimulation and shocks in his night of high erotica, dance and sound, light and illusion effects.

"I've been to productions of Miss Julie where it's seemed such a museum piece, and the play can be terribly polite and precious, without any titters, but I come from the background of horror movies and sex comedies... so you know what to expect!

"My production does shock audiences but in the right way, not in a gratuitous way. It's the content that's shocking."

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he!

Armstrong Arts presents Miss Julie at Grand Opera House, York, June 12 and 13, 7.30pm. Tickets: £10, with concessions available; ring 01904 671818.