FIFO – Fit In or F**k Off! explores the challenges fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers and their families face, including the disconnect to family and friends, feelings of displacement, isolation, and the ever-present drug culture. The play follows two families, Jono, Mary and Janey, whose lives have been impacted by mining. Playwright Melody Dia weaves a confronting and visceral story as problems escalate, hit a turning point and explode – with secrets coming out.
FIFO – Fit In or F**k Off! is filled with wry humour, turbulent emotions and unflinching truths. This powerhouse of a play will leave the reader on the edge of their seat asking, ‘is it worth it?’
Melody Dia is a proud Nyul Nyul woman born and raised in Broome, Western Australia. She has a mixed heritage of Indonesian, Indian and European – a typical reflection of Broome’s pearling history. After watching the stage play Bran Nue Dae as a young girl and discovering Shakespeare in high school, Melody developed an avid interest in the written word, writing and performance poetry. She is now a popular fixture at the Broome’s Corrugated Lines Writer’s Festival Spoken Word Event.
Melody has worked in pubs/kitchens, classrooms, mine sites and offices. Her current job in aged care regularly takes her across the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Melody has been a participant of the Goolarri Writer’s program since 2014 where she began writing FIFO – Fit In or F**k Off!, which was selected for the 2019 Yellamundie First Nations Play Festival as part of the Sydney International Arts Festival, directed by Rachel Maza. It went on to be co-produced by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and Goolarri Media, premiering in October 2020
Melody is currently working on her second play.
