At GOFF we thought very hard about what our core message is and who really embodies those values. We then decided on four women who represent these ideas – unfailing commitment to feminism, collegiality with other women, making art against the odds, love of popular culture, appreciation of fandom, a wicked sense of humour and a strong desire to party. We asked them to be our champions, our ambassadors, and the shining jewels in the GOFF crown. They said yes. So it’s with immense joy and pride that this week we announce the very first Fairy GOFFMothers – starting with Nakkiah Lui!

NAKKIAH LUI is a celebrated writer for television, stage and performance. She has been an artist in residence at Griffin Theatre Company and an associate playwright at Belvoir Theatre, where her debut play This Heaven opened the 2013 downstairs season. This Heaven was an instant hit, with a sell out production that was extended twice.

Nakkiah’s other works for theatre include I should have told you before we made love (that I’m black) at the You Are Here Festival in Canberra, Stho Sthexy for MKA in Melbourne and The Traditional Owners of Death at the Bondi Feast festival in Sydney. Nakkiah also wrote My Dreaming, Our Awakening, the first radio play on the ABC Radio National program Awaye! Nakkiah’s awards include the inaugural The Dreaming Award from the Australia Council, and the inaugural Balnaves Foundation Indigenous Playwright’s Award.

On screen, Nakkiah wrote and directed both the documentary From Drag King to Law Queen, and the short film BabyGirl, which has been broadcast on the ABC and NITV. This year Nakkiah will make her television debut in Black Comedy (ABC/Scarlett Pictures), a new comedy series for which she is co-writer and star.

Nakkiah is also a proud Gamilaroi/Torres Strait Islander woman and a young leader in the Australian Aboriginal community, having also contributed to The Guardian, been a featured panelist during Sydney Writers Festival (2014), and appeared on ABC TV’s The Drum.

Nakkiah’s favourite girl on film is Romy and Michele, because everybody knows they really count as one superior person.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Nakkiah at GOFF, and we know you’re gonna love her!