YORK company Procter Goblins promise "outrageous theatre from proper horrid folk, looking to ruin the tales from your childhood" in Grimm Up North on the city streets from August 30 to September 1.

"York’s theatre scene is about to get a rude awakening, as Procter Goblins bring the Grimm fairy tales to life in the most horrible way possible," says company co-founder and artistic director Benji Rose (previously known to The Press readers as Benjamin Rosenfield).

"On a trashy, twisted fairytale trip around York with some of the worst people in the world, Jacob and Willy Grimm will show audiences the horrible northern truth behind their works. With their friend Cliff, they'll embark on a journey of fairy tales, violence, debauchery, hedonism and the dark art of necromancy. It's nasty. It’s trashy. It’s vulgar. It's shocking. It's gory. It's sexy. It’s got no regard for political correctness. It's not for the young or easily offended. It's proper grim!"

Part of the new wave of enfant-terrible theatre companies gaining more exposure in York, such as the "remarkably controversial" Harold and Arthur, Procter Goblins want to cause a commotion. "We’re not shock-jocks; we don’t want to upset and offend for the sake of it, but we’ve all got a wicked sense of humour and enjoy causing a ruckus," says Rose. "This show goes to some horrible places and audiences will either love it or hate it. Do we go too far? Maybe, but that’s part of the fun!"

Formed in 2015, Procter Goblins have staged such shows as A Christmas Carol at the Black Swan Inn, Scenes From A Teenage Killing, Night Of The Northern Dead and a previous, family-friendly version of Grimm Up North, as well as their Oh No! Not This…cabaret nights.

Grimm Up North will begin at 7pm each night by the statue of Emperor Constantine, at the south entrance to York Minster, and is a Pay What You Feel production. "It is definitely not suitable for children, so an 18 plus recommendation has been put in place," says Rose.