09/08/2026
My name is (not) mum
Written and performed by Sarah O’Connell, Beccy Myers, Lysanne Van Zessen, Debbie Brooks and Breigh O’Malley.
Reviewed by Suzanne Borlase
The ballroom at Fairfield House, Nelson, on a winter’s night was a lovely, intimate setting to see this production on Saturday 8th August 2026.
Over about 80 minutes, the audience was taken through a rolling journey in a raw, real, funny and emotional series of vignettes from all of these women, who are mothers.
The small, simple set was cluttered with the detritus of busy home life as a mum, and each performer used different aspects of it in different ways.
From the very start, my deep personal memories were triggered by the relentless uttering of “mum, mum, mum” in tones of varying urgency and shrillness to start the show. The door through which the actors entered was treated like the child’s bedroom door, always closed as quietly as possible so there might be an evening of child-free time to rediscover myself – “not mum”.
These women were amazing.
Sarah brought comedy and harsh but heartfelt reality to her powerful performance.
Beccy was seen three times throughout the show, showing us the solace a mum can find, briefly, in the toilet. Her script was entirely poetry, beautifully written, and her deeply moving performance had me in tears. I’m sure I wasn’t alone.
Lysanne’s two scenes were quirkily entertaining, poignant and humorous with some lovely little touching moments.
Debbie’s emotional chronicles connected deeply with the audience. Her raw honesty and use of props (one of them a crocheted heart) and music told her story with beautiful depth.
Breigh was delightful and relatable as the slightly cray-cray mum expressing herself through song, with witty and self-written lyrics.
The common thread was the constant juggle to try to be everything to everyone and the craving of time with self, expressed beautifully and so differently by all these performers.
The finale was heartwarming, led by Lysanne on her self-taught ukulele, with a bit of very willing audience participation!
I’m sure all of us went away last night having been reached and touched. My heart was warmed and my eyes moistened.
It now deserves a wider audience.
There was so much love, experience, wisdom and skill shared in that ballroom!
It could be an educational tool for prospective parents. Harsh but real! Thank you all, you wonderful wahine!
