Edinburgh International Festival 8th-31st August 2008

Two Festival 08 shows have been honoured at the Australian Helpmann awards - the equivalent of UK's Oliviers - receiving five nominations between them.

Chunky Move's innovative dance production Mortal Engine - which has its European premiere on Sunday 17 August at the Edinburgh Playhouse - has been nominated in the Best Original Score and Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production categories. The Australian contemporary dance company were recognised for a further four awards including Best New Australian Work, Best Choreography in a Dance and Physical Theatre Production, Best Female Dancer and Best Ballet or Dance Work. Using laser and video projections, the visual display in Mortal Engine responds to the movements of the individual dancers triggering light and sound patterns that ensure every performance is unique.

The Tell-Tale Heart, adapted from the classic Edgar Allan Poe story by Barry Kosky, is up for Best Original Score and Best Direction of a Play, with Marton Niedermairreceiving a nomination for Best Male Actor in a Play.

This gothic tale explores the intense guilt experienced by a murderer as the perceived sound of his victim's beating heart threatens to overcome his sanity.

Barry Kosky - whose Poppea was a critical and public success at last year's festival - not only directs the play but also wrote the original score which he will perform from the stage.The Tell-Tale Heart runs at the Royal Lyceum Theatre from Saturday 9 - Monday 11 August.

The winners of the Helpmann awards will be announced on Monday 28 July.

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 August, 8pm

Monday 11 August, 2.30pm

Royal Lyceum Theatre

Tickets: From £10

Sunday 17 - Tuesday 19 August, 8pm

The Edinburgh Playhouse

Tickets: From £8