Interview with performer Giulia Asquino of C’Est Moi
Rising British-Italian performer Giulia Asquino recently premiered her solo theatre piece C’Est Moi at London’s The Cockpit.
Asquino is now preparing to take C’Est Moi to the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, where it will run at the Ghillie Dhu from 13–24 August 2025. Let’s get into it…
Hi Giulia, do you remember the first stage you performed on? What was it like and how did you feel?
Hi George! The first stage I performed on as an actor was in a small off-Broadway stage owned by the acting studio where I was studying. I was 19. It had been an incredible emotion, especially since I was speaking! I know it sounds silly, but after being a ballet dancer for 16 years and leaving specifically because I started to have the need to express myself in a different way, I felt so free. My body was not enough anymore. It felt liberating and incredibly scary at the same time.
Solo theatre is such an intimate format. What drew you to telling the story of C’Est Moi alone on stage?
I believe this would have been the only way to tell the story of C’est Moi. Because it’s been a very personal journey, and I think at one point it was a way to get over it myself. It takes a lot to share a part of your personal story with the audience, but I’m not afraid to show them who I am. I deeply believe that maybe I could help someone else with it.
I didn’t want to talk about Edith Piaf, because if we want, we can read about her on the internet or in a book. I wanted to demystify the icon and see the person; that’s why I put my life in parallel. I don’t want to compare myself to her; I want to understand our lives through her. It is to say that no matter what we do, where we are, or what year it is, we all have the same fears, the same hopes and dreams. And we all look for love, in all of its forms.
C’Est Moi premiered at London’s The Cockpit, a venue known for creative and experimental theatre. Did you find that the space
Absolutely! That black box at The Cockpit really gave the show an amazing atmosphere, not just to the audience but also to me. It’s a wonderful space, and the people are very kind, professional, and passionate.
What are your hopes for the show after Edinburgh? Would you like to tour it further, or evolving it into another form?
My hopes for the Edinburgh Fringe are to bring something to the audience and create as many connections as possible with the industry and other artists. My goal is to bring C’Est Moi on tour around the UK, and why not?
Since I’ve spent most of my time studying in the US, I would love to bring it back to New York, or Los Angeles.
What are loving in the UK culture scene right now? What’s caught your attention? (could be anything!)?
Lately, I’ve been really inspired by the intimacy and boldness in the UK’s cultural scene. There’s a real openness to personal storytelling, especially in theatre, which resonates deeply with me.
As part of my family is British, so engaging with UK culture feels like reconnecting with a part of myself. I’m constantly noticing how British artists explore identity, belonging, and emotion in such subtle but powerful ways.
Learn more about C’Est Moi and purchase tickets here.