Lamesha Ruddock
Forget-Me-Not is an intimate live session where friendship takes centre stage. Performed by Orange is the New Black’s Julie Lake and songwriter Annie Macleod, it is a moving exploration of how dreams, motherhood, and relationships can reveal that your muse has been with you all along.
Julie Lake and Annie Macleod bring to life a tender and beautifully crafted story of friendship, resilience, and artistic rediscovery. Forget-Me-Not follows two women who dare to write their own show, leave their children behind for half the summer, and bring their voices to the Edinburgh Fringe. It is a celebration of never stopping the music and to live life without regret.
In Forget-Me-Not, Julie Lake and Annie Macleod reconnect during Covid, finding solace in each other’s voices and the rare honesty to admit what they truly want and need. A musical session in New Orleans reignites Annie’s creative fire, giving her a cathartic space to voice her desires. Julie, meanwhile, is navigating a personal rebirth, looking back at her first love Sam and longing for the musical devotion they once shared. She is unsatisfied with the version of herself left behind after motherhood and is ready to reclaim her magic.
For Annie, her move to New Orleans brought both inspiration and isolation. Validation from her neighbour Leo reaffirmed her as a musician in her own right, but his sudden passing shook her deeply, adding layers of reflection and tension to her friendship with Julie.
The staging of Forget-Me-Not is intimate yet purposeful. A patterned carpet grounds the space, with stage left holding a wooden high chair, mic, stand, and green guitar, and stage right featuring a keyboard, another high chair, and mic stand. Julie Lake and Annie Macleod use opposite sides of the stage to create the illusion of phone calls, blending melodic live vocals into their storytelling. They transform familiar pop hits like Milkshake and Hotline Bling into poignant backdrops, reframing their meanings entirely.
Lighting design adds emotional texture when deep pink and blue tones bathe Julie and Annie in their balladic moments, particularly when witnessing “Annie’s Song,” while Annie is enveloped in rich blue washes during scenes of yearning, embodying the waiting and patience she has endured.
Their trust and chemistry is undeniable. Annie’s playful hip bump urging Julie to share her original music is a small but telling moment of mutual encouragement. Annie commands the stage with honesty and warmth, her connection to her children felt in the way she designates audience members as stand-ins or pauses mid-monologue as though tending to them. Julie is vivacious and hopeful, offering unflinching self-reflection as she questions her desires and the expectations of others.
Forget-Me-Not is a deeply personal and emotionally resonant piece that showcases the artistic partnership of Julie Lake and Annie Macleod. It is a love letter to friendship and the courage to keep going. Forget-Me-Not is the reminder you need to keep creating and keep living.
Performances of Forget-Me-Not have now concluded at EdFringe 2025.
Phoebe Bakker
Jasmine Silk
