Miela’s Box is the first produced play of Tasneem Daniels, a playwright from Cape Town with a background in entertainment, media and education. Daniels finished her final draft of Miela’s Box during her writing residency at Paulet House in 2019.
We underestimate the power of safe spaces when it comes to doing the work that’s needed in the world. The environment you move in has a huge effect on how you think, process and produce, and what writers and creators always yearn for is a place, hidden away from the noise and obligations of the world, where long stretches of uninterrupted time can be made available for creation. Who would’ve thought that somewhere in the mountains of Somerset East, 2 hours away from Port Elizabeth, the Paulet Huis was going to be exactly that for me.
Excerpt from Tasneem Daniels’ article about her experience writing at Paulet House.
This sold-out show débuted in November 2020 and was supported by the Suidoosterfees’ NATi Jong Sterre Project, the Jakes Gerwel Foundation, Artscape & Atlantic Film Studios Cape Town. Miela’s Box was also adapted for radio stations nationally during the covid lockdown by the Artscape New Voices Program, with both performances directed by Rafiek Mammon, with cast: Zenobia Kloppers, Gary Naidoo & Liande’ Valentyn.
In Miela’s Box, the Hendericks family siblings Miela and Salie dispute the ownership of the family home and legacy after the death of Boeya, their father. Salie’s wife, Baby, is about to give birth and the couple wants to convert Boeya’s vacant room into a nursery. This enrages Miela, the owner of the house – or so she lets them believe. How far will Miela go to hold onto her position as Tietie (older sister), and what once was?
Miela’s Box is a 50min radio drama in English & Kaaps. The show will air on Cape Flats Radio, a product of the Cape Flats Stories, and Radio Eersteriver on Sunday 30 June 2024 at 8pm. Listen live by downloading the radio apps on Play store, or on the radio websites: https://capeflatsstories.co.za/ and https://www.radioeersteriver.co.za/ For more information, contact Tasneem Daniels on tasdaniels10@gmail.com or 084 830 1272, and follow both radio platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & YouTube.
“Together Cape Flats Stories and Radio Eersteriver has a combined reach of 20-40 million,” reports Stanley Jacobs, Cape Flats Literary Awards winner and Cape Flats Stories founder. “Our radio platform has gone live, and we are excited to have Tasneem Daniels introduce more arts programs to our Cape Flats audiences.”
“Miela’s Box had a successful début on stage and radio,” says Tasneem Daniels. “I’m excited to bring the show back to the airwaves after covid, especially to the Cape Flats community that is so close to the heart of the story.”
Click here if you would like to read more about Tasneem Daniels’ experience writing at Paulet House.
