Deep-fried theatre

The Guardian's critics have selected their shows to watch at this year's Edinburgh Festival. As with any such list, it's a bit of a curate's egg and probably not intended to be definitive. Nevertheless, it's interesting - and a little disappointing - to note that the theatre picks consist of adaptations of hit books ('Platform', 'My name is Rachel Corrie') and of cult classic movies (the 'cinema on stage' of 'Get Carter' or 'Midnight Cowboy'), with a bit of Shakespeare ('Troilus and Cressida') thrown in for the traditionalists. Is the stage so devoid of powerful new voices of its own? I don't believe it for a minute, but the proof of the pudding will be in next month's eating. I'm at the festival from August 19th to 28th: I'll let you know how it tastes.