A bizarre show set in a sex cabaret and featuring nudity, explicit language and talk of unusual sexual acts is to be performed in a former York church.

Leeds-based Imitating The Dog theatre company are bringing their latest show, Einmal Ist Keinmal, which translates as Once Is Never, to the city's Arts Centre in Micklegate.

The show is being allowed to go ahead despite City of York councillors ruling last year that all venues for sex shows need to be licensed.

The play follows performers at the cabaret as they rehearse, quarrel and philosophise while putting the finishing touches to their erotic performance.Seth Honnor, a member of the theatre group, said the show wasn't as offensive as it sounded.

"We issued a warning that the play could be offensive when we started touring, but we've been all round the country now and we haven't had any complaints and I think we would leave it off if we made the decision now," he said.

"It doesn't feature full frontal nudity. We are naked, but the lights are very dim and it is arty rather than shocking. There is some explicit language, but it's not the worst that people would have heard.

"People who see this show should be at least 16 years old but it isn't really shocking. I think it is more weird than offensive."

City of York Council introduced the licensing rule following attempts by The Cells in Parliament Street to hold a striptease show featuring topless barmaids.

The show was cancelled because it was proving too popular.

But this latest show has received mixed comments from York's theatrical community.

Regular theatregoer George Goodair, whose wife Audrey is secretary of the Theatre Royal Club, said: "I think I can speak for both of us when I say that we go to the theatre to be entertained and not to listen to bad language.

"The nudity doesn't bother us - sometimes the play requires it."

Vic Larsen, president of the Drama Society at York University, said: "I saw the play at the Scarborough Festival and I thought it was quite good.

"I don't particularly have a problem with explicit language or nudity but it is actually done quite well.

"I don't find it particularly offensive but I understand there will be people who do.

"But overall it is an interesting production and I'm planning to see it again."

Dick Haswell, the council's licensing manager, said: "City of York Council licences the Arts Centre both for public entertainment and theatre and, consequently, we do have a degree of control.

"With regard to this event we regard it as legitimate performing art which has received suitable acclaim and the publicity contains appropriate guidance as to the content.

"My advice is that the nudity content is not pornographic, nor is it intended to be sexually stimulating. This is in contrast to the strip show and topless barmaids for the all-male event that was proposed for The Cells."

John Shannon, chairman of the Civic Trust, which owns the Arts Centre building, declined to comment.

Einmal Ist Keinmal will be performed on Wednesday at 8.30pm.

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