From Ladysmith to London

A Grammy-nominated Zulu ballet production is captivating audiences in London's West End, blending music inspired by Joseph Shabalala, dance and storytelling into an immersive celebration of South African culture

- Aarti Bhana

Enchanting: Inala features the Soweto Gospel Choir and has a permanent residency at House of Sisters Grimm in London. Photos: Helen Mayhew

South Africa's heritage, culture and music has found its way into the heart of London's West End in a production called Inala which tells a Zulu story through an immersive, artistic and winery experience.

The critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated Zulu ballet production features music co-written by the late Joseph Shabalala, founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and producer Ella Spira. The production features the Soweto Gospel Choir and has a permanent residency at House of Sisters Grimm in London.

The venue is run by the production company of the same name and was co-founded by Spira and Pietra Mello-Pittman, a former Royal Ballet dancer. The latest iteration of the production has been enchanting audiences since November 2025 and will run until early April.

The idea was initially conceptualised by Spira and Pittman in 2009, after they recognised the lack of diverse artists across different art forms in London's theatre scene.

They sought to instead create a space which celebrated South African culture through collaboration but also to put these artists on a stage that felt as posh as opera but in a contemporary way.

"There wasn't much cross-pollination and I felt there was a space for us to break down those barriers and bring everybody together," Spira told the Mail & Guardian.

"So, Pietra and I started to develop the concept around Inala from that position. We approached Ladysmith Black Mambazo and they were up for the idea."

"I had an ambition to see Mambazo's work continue to have a space...the way to make sure that they live on is to find a new contemporary way for those to continue to exist," she added.