Mij Taneth

In a career spanning more than forty years, Mij Tanith has written plays, short fiction, poetry and longer narrative works. Her early work as a playwright began with Blind Circumstance (Griffin Theatre Company, 1985) and was followed by several commissioned plays in South Australia that addressed themes including adult literacy, environmental concerns, media ethics and schoolyard violence.

Alongside her writing, she taught creative writing at TAFE and in community settings, working with women, immigrants, and lesbian and gay groups. She later wrote regular feature articles for Blaze, Adelaide’s gay and lesbian newspaper.

Her publications include Pastiche, a play set in an apocalyptic future; Three Seasons, a novel set in the 1980s exploring family, relationships and ESL teaching; and Stories From a Garden, a rhyming narrative combining local history, fiction and community themes. She was named City of Adelaide Citizen of the Year in 2025 for her long-term advocacy and support for refugees. Laila’s Story draws on this work.