The Oxford-based Idle Motion physical theatre group performed at the Edinburgh Fringe last year – and this bright and thoughtful company is aiming to make it two successes in a row with an intriguing work based on the life and work of the Argentinean writer Jorge Borges. By the time you read this, the two men and four women who make up the company will be at their Scottish venue, having given two previews at the school which they all attended as pupils. Their 50-minute show is a good example of how a basic idea can evolve via experiment and workshopping to a thoroughly professional product, and one which is enhanced by the intimacy of the acting area. The touchstone is Borges’ short story The History of Babel and books (an interest in, and the physical presence of), language, bafflements in relationships and a descent into blindness are all pulled together with touching feel and understanding by Idle Motion.

Physical theatre, by definition, calls for movement and precision action in parallel with that boring function called ‘acting’, but the trick is pulled off wonderfully well here. Excursions down unexpected Borges avenues are cleverly balanced by ensemble acting of fine quality as the six return time and again to their book club roots (and thus that squirming embarrassment instantly recognisable by a North Oxford audience – and an Edinburgh one too, I dare say). The cast is uniformly excellent, but one should highlight Kate Stanley in her role as narrator, and Sophie Cullen and Joel Gatehouse also.

To create a piece which makes an audience think and concentrate is a worthy activity. To make it laugh and have fun as well is admirable. To do it without making one feel inadequate if one knows little about Borges and his works is a tremendous feat. This sparky group deserves to succeed.

Until August 28 at The Zoo, Edinburgh. Tel: 0121 662 6892 (www.zoofestival.co.uk – www.idlemotion.co.uk).