A showcase of dynamic and original work will make its debut at this year's Edinburgh Festival to promote Brighton and Hove as a city of culture.

Fresh work by 13 theatre and dance companies will feature throughout the festival, one of the most renowned platforms for up-and-coming stars of theatre, arts and comedy.

Promoters hope the line-up will boost Brighton and Hove's campaign to earn the title of European Capital of Culture 2008.

The Cafedirect aurora nova Festival of World Theatre is organised and run by the Brighton-based theatre Komedia and it promises to be one of the best events at Edinburgh Fringe this year.

Between August 3 and 26, aurora nova will be presented at two of the festival's venues, St Stephen's and Theatre Workshop.

The performers are hoping to put their city in the spotlight as well as their own shows, which will be presented throughout the festival.

Alice Hartmann, spokeswoman for Komedia in Gardner Street, said: "Edinburgh for Komedia is a platform for showcasing the best of what we believe in which is fresh, dynamic and original work, international but also from the United Kingdom.

"Edinburgh is where you can be seen and recognised on a national and international level for what you do.

"On the other hand it is also where we find a lot of the work we book for the following seasons in Brighton.

"Most of the theatre shows we presented in this year's Brighton Festival, like The Well Being and Love and Other Fairytales, we found them at Edinburgh Fringe.

"Our artistic director spends his days scouting for shows he would want to book.

"Our presence there is growing and its impact on the arts and entertainment scene in Brighton is invaluable and quantifiable."

Brighton and Hove is one of 12 cities bidding to become the Capital of Culture. The aurora nova is just one of a series of events throughout the year to support the campaign.

Other highlights included Fatboy Slim's recent party on the beach.

Cafdirect, the fair trade coffee and tea company, is sponsoring aurora nova.