Amelia Hamilton is thriving. She’s a woman in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), proudly single and a comedy star you won’t want to miss. Her debut solo hour, Forget-Me-Not, is a tender personal exploration of being a young woman in 2025, explored through the medium of rap. And she’s great at it.
Without missing a beat, Hamilton takes us through the topics of many a mid-to-late-twenties-crisis. Should I compromise my independence by coupling-up? What is the point of me? Aren’t we all just going to die anyway?
Hamilton is instantly likeable and is a complete natural on stage. This is a skill that you can’t learn, you either have it or you don’t. The audience love her. She’s talented, charming and takes us on interludes she clearly didn’t intend, but are delightful nonetheless, including her very recent foray into dating app, Raya. Her reflections on being single, choosing herself and making the most of each moment (with a knowing nod to the live, laugh, love brigade) are poignant, witty and true-to-life.
The feminist touch to Hamilton’s work is both funny and fitting. A reflection on older women and how little they care any more, after a lifetime of giving to others, really resonates. Her song on being a woman in STEM gives a sassy shout-out to men on how easy it is to take a leaf out of her book.
Hamilton’s strong start getting the audience on board dwindles slightly towards the end of the show, for reasons that remain mostly unclear, because her demeanour and songs are great. A ditty on our digital presence doesn’t get the laughs it deserves, but she’s dealing with a mixed-age, mixed-gender crowd in a busy, semi-open pub. She handles this with the utmost professionalism, like the A-grade performer she is.
This original and inspiring show will be one everyone is talking about. We will forget-her-not.
Runs until 11 May 2025 at The Maris and Otter.
