Filmmaker, writer and performer Beccy Myers is one of the creative forces behind My Name is (Not) Mum, an original theatre work coming to Fairfield House on 7–8 August. We caught up with the Nelson mum to chat about storytelling, local favourites, unexpected adventures and the little things that make life interesting.
At the weekend you’ll find me... spending time outdoors with my little one, making short films with friends or rehearsing for the next stage show. My Sundays are currently taken up with rehearsals for ‘My Name is (Not) Mum’. We had hoped to bring this show to the stage earlier this year, for Nelson Fringe Festival, however the universe had other plans and it was not the right time. Since then, we have each been quietly working away on our parts behind the scenes, taking the extra time to mould this show into exactly what we want it to be. Think raw, honest truths about motherhood, with comedy, poetry and even a little music thrown into the mix.
I’m a real nerd about... storytelling, in whatever form that comes. Whether it’s making and sharing short films, having a yarn over a pint at The Free House, going along to hear some original poetry at Nelson Live Poets, sharing a funny (read: too relatable) reel in the mums group chat, or even an all-singing, all-dancing musical at one of our local theatre spaces, if you’ve got a good story to tell I’m here for it.
My most useless skill is... remembering the lyrics to Gangsta’s Paradise (and being unable to hear it without singing along at the top of my lungs).
A random fact I love is... that gorillas have unique noses, in the same way humans have unique fingerprints! Wild.
My simple pleasures are… beach trips, getting out on my bike with my little one in the baby seat (thanks Bike Hub!), river walks and op-shopping around Nelson Tasman – best op-shops in any place I’ve ever been, I reckon.
A family tradition I’ll never give up… is watching the LateLate Toy Show at Christmas time. A bit of a cultural institution for Irish people, it definitely helps me get into the holiday spirit each year. Still not quite used to sunny Christmases, even after 15 years living on this side of the world. Luckily over the years it’s become much easier to stream it live from Ireland, so I get to watch along with everyone else in my family and don’t have to get FOMO.
My guilty pleasure is… definitely true crime. From serial killer podcasts, to cult leader docos, and of course those ambiguous Netflix specials that really make you question who’s guilty – I love them all and find them both fascinating and (weirdly) comforting.
My most irrational fear is... waking up to be murdered in my bed by an intruder in the middle of the night. Might be something to do with all those true crime docos… who knows.
The biggest risk I’ve ever taken... was separating from the friends I was travelling Australia with, to move to Melbourne with a man I’d only known for two weeks. Fifteen years and one daughter later, our adventure continues here in Nelson, so I’d say he has turned out to be worth the risk.
My biggest pet peeve is… taps that are too small for the sink they are installed in. Nothing worse than having a lovely wide hand basin and then finding you have to squish your knuckles against the side of it just to get them under the running water. You would be surprised just how many public establishments in Nelson seem to have picked out their tapware with zero consideration to the size of the sink. I know this is a tiny thing to get worked up about (the very definition of a pet peeve, surely) but now that I’ve said it, I bet you start to notice this almost everywhere you go… sorry, not sorry.
The most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done is… organised a film festival at State Cinemas with only two weeks' notice (CreepFest 2024), MCing the event and presenting the inaugural Total Trash award, all while being six weeks postpartum. Coming back soon for the next instalment, CreepFest 2026 is not for the faint of heart, so consider yourselves warned. Definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you think you’re up to it I’ll see you there – Saturday 11 July, State Cinemas.
