Making their Edinburgh Fringe debut this summer, writer and performer Gaia Mondadori is set to bring Centre of the Universe to Summerhall’s Tech Cube Zero. A one-person show that blends absurd humour with existential inquiry, the piece explores the modern obsession with success, identity, and the search for meaning in a digital age.
“I started off as an actor doing a lot of theatre as a kid and teenager,” Mondadori explains. “But I quickly realised how little control the actor has. I needed to make my own work to play the roles I wasn’t otherwise going to get to play yet.”
That impulse to create has led to Centre of the Universe, a show that follows Mary, a seemingly ordinary teenager who believes she is destined for greatness. “It’s a very silly, very fun, but also quite profound one-woman show,” Mondadori says. “Mary eventually discovers that she is the centre of the universe in human form.”
The inspiration for the piece came from conversations around success and the pressures of modern life. “I was feeling so unsatisfied by the narrative we’re sold about success,” they reflect. “Even in schools, we’ve been told a slight lie. I wanted to explore that confusion through a character’s journey—almost a spiritual one.”
Social media, particularly TikTok, plays a central role in the show’s world. “Success has become more individualised and performative,” Mondadori notes. “We’re in an age of competition and intense narcissism. TikTok has almost become a religion, filling this God-shaped hole within us.”
In researching the platform, Mondadori discovered the concept of “aura points”—a TikTok phenomenon that fascinated and unsettled them. “It’s this idea that your worth can be quantified by your vibe. That’s terrifying. But it also made me want to humanise the influencers we see. They have fears and dreams too.”
Performing their own writing is both a challenge and a joy. “It’s such a playful story, and I feel lucky to have a team who are unlocking parts of the script I didn’t even realise were there,” they say. “It’s a very physical show. I’m equal parts scared and incredibly excited.”
This will be Mondadori’s first full run at the Fringe, and they’re eager to immerse themselves in the festival. “I’m so excited to be surrounded by other artists, especially from different disciplines. I love clowning and can’t wait to see loads of clowning shows.”
Ultimately, Centre of the Universe is more than a satire of self-help culture or a critique of digital life. “I wrote it as a love letter to theatre and to life,” Mondadori says. “The wonders and the horrors—it’s all just really a gift.”
Asked how they’d pitch the show on the Royal Mile, Mondadori smiles: “I’d say, have you been waiting for a sign from the universe? Because this is it.”
Centre of the Universe runs at Summerhall (Tech Cube Zero), Edinburgh from 31st July to 25th August 2025 (not 12th or 19th) at 19:30. Tickets are available here.
