The sun shines on the righteous, as this launch is bright and early – 9 am for 9.30 am. William, the doorman at Edinburgh's Glasshouse Hotel with his dapper George-Melly-style hat, claims to be a mind-reader as he directs press towards head-porter Robert. With only one lift working, things get a bit cosy in the closet-sized space (not for the claustrophobic or unwashed). Who'd have thought that a central Edinburgh hotel would have a rooftop garden complete with real grass (not the smoking kind), trees and shrubs? Pretty elfin-faced Miriam Attwood (Edinburgh Fringe press & marketing Officer) looks confident dressed in cool blues, doing the important task of meet 'n' greet. The credit crisis is hitting everywhere including this press launch – bacon and egg rolls, tea and coffee. Not a drop of booze in sight.

Inside the purpose-built marquee, street performers (not that sort of street performer) The Two Sopranos, Essex girls (there isn't a white handbag in sight) Felicity Redman and Tiffany Redman sit elegantly in frocks provided by Vivien of Holloway. Cameras are out to capture the spectacle of these two beautiful coquettes as they open the event, filling the tent with class. When they finish their third song, Jon Morgan, the latest director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, encourages people to take a seat. Dressed in a deep pink shirt and dark pinstripe suit, he has an elegant command of the arena. He says that after taking over from Paul Gudgin last year (2007), he had no idea about all the weeks of preparation. The economic climate being dreadful, and with everyone in debt, you'd expect fewer performers. But the 2008 Fringe is big as ever. There are an estimated 18,792 performers in 31,320 performances of 2,088 shows in 247 venues spread across the city. Each year the Fringe is a mirror of the world - performers come from everywhere: Australia to Zimbabwe.

There will be controversy as always from the impact of technology on human relationships. Free Outgoing, About Face(book), Table 23 and I Love you, Bro all delve into the darker side of internet chatrooms and social networking. There are interactive experiences for audiences. In Scavengers, participants contribute to an unusual exhibition after 40 teams go on a scavenger hunt across Edinburgh. There's a chocolate-tasting murder mystery - Death by Chocolate. The Caravan takes place in a tiny caravan; it concentrates on the plight of British people caught by the 2007 floods, and still living in temporary accommodation.

Comedy is contemporary and controversial, with shows such as Eco-Friendly Jihad and The Arab, the Jew and the Chicken. And the Fringe wouldn't be the Fringe without a sprinkling of celebrities. This year they include Britt Ekland, Joan Rivers, Leonard Nimoy, Bill Bailey, Simon Callow and Hazel O'Connor. Jon Morgan keeps his presentation brief. He says that without the artists there would be no festival, and anyone can take part – young and old, newcomers and veterans. As actor Bryan Cox says, 'Edinburgh is a unique experience.' Even though he's soaking in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.

END

(c) Lea Harris 5 June 08

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme Launch 2008 - at The Glasshouse Hotel, 2 Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AA

Official website - www.edfringe.com

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008