A Cold Day in Hell is brought to Edinburgh from Armenia by the Armenian State Song Theatre. Written by Jan Quackenbush and directed by Hrach Keshisyan, this emotional one-man show tells the story of Charlie, whose wife was involved in a car accident, placing her into a coma. The story picks up 6 months after the event as we see Charlie navigate his grief and anger at the world. He turns on a video camera, intending to confess to a final act – switching off his wife’s life support machine and then ending his own life. However, with so many thoughts and complications in his head, will he ever go through with it?
Nerses Avetisyan plays Charlie with fantastic, never-failing energy throughout the play’s entirety. From a powerful movement sequence at the show’s opening to gritty text, delving deep into Charlie’s moral questioning, Avetisyan is very watchable and intriguing. Speaking in his native tongue, Armenian (English subtitles projected behind), and despite focusing his attention on the camera in front, it feels as though he is talking to each audience member personally. This is greatly assisted through the use of a radio mic that allows Avetisyan to speak quieter than most theatre productions but still be heard, giving the whole piece a real intimate feel.
Quackenbush’s script is particularly commendable for its exploration of religion and morality. It questions the idea of ‘God’s plan’ while taking into account the ten commandments, doing unto others as you would want done unto you. This was a very interesting way to explore Charlie’s own dilemma on whether to switch off his wife’s life support machine. Quackenbush made the character of Charlie feel very human, which, in turn, created a stronger connection between actor and spectator.
A Cold Day in Hell is an exciting and gritty piece of international theatre that feels right at home within the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It feels very human and leaves the audience with questions even after they leave the venue.
A Cold Day in Hell runs until August 9th at Greenside @ George Street, Forest theatre and tickets are available at https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-cold-day-in-hell
Reviewer: Dylan Mooney
Reviewed: 2nd August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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