Saturday Review - 21/08/2010

Join Saturday Review in Edinburgh this week, where Tom Sutcliffe and guests Ian Rankin, Hannah McGill, and Danny Robins give their verdicts on a hand-picked selection of what the Festival has to offer, including: Beautiful Burnout, a new production from the National Theatre of Scotland. Written by Bryony Lavery, it tells the story of five aspiring boxers and the coach who hopes to lead them to glory. Tender comic narrative from Daniel Kitson; brainy ideas about golf and quantum physics from Alex Horne, and reflections on Star Wars, memory foam and how planets get their status from Arj Barker, plus news of hot festival ticket Bo Burnham. Also in the programme... Sylvain Chomet's film The Illusionist: set in Edinburgh, it brings to life a 'lost' script by French director Jacques Tati. William Gibson's latest novel Zero History: a tale of grand hotels, shadowy deeds, paranoia - and jeans. Martin Creed's latest exhibition Down Over Up, which focuses on order, stacking and progression in characteristically direct style. BEAUTIFUL BURNOUT Beautiful Burnout runs at The Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh until 29th August and then tours to Glasgow, London, Glenrothes, Sheffield and Chichester. COMEDY Alex Horne's Odds is at the Pleasance Courtyard until 30th August, Daniel Kitson's It's Always Right Now, Until It's Later is at the Traverse Theatre until 29th August and Arj Barker's Let Me Do the Talking continues at the Assembly on George Street until 29th August. THE ILLUSIONIST ... is on general release, certificate PG. ZERO HISTORY Published by Penguin. MARTIN CREED Martin Creed's show Down Over Up continues at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh until October 31st.