Sisters Grimm preview upcoming shows including acclaimed Zulu ballet Inala at Ministry of Sound

On Thursday 8^th November, Sisters Grimm celebrated their 10^th birthday by presenting excerpts from several of their upcoming shows to an intimate audience at the Ministry of Sound in Elephant and Castle.

The Ministry was transformed from its usual sweaty, dark and chaotic throng into something altogether more reserved, with walls and balcony decorated with lights and ivy. The middle of the floor was taken up by a single plastic tree sprouting little white flowers, as if to immerse attendees in a fairytale forest.

The “sisters” are composer Ella Spira and ex-Royal Ballet dancer Pietra Mello-Pittman. In their own words, Sisters Grimm was founded “with a vision to create shows that maintain the highest artistic standards, are culturally themed, socially relevant and accessible”. At the Ministry of Sound, they presented previews of five of their new performances: Voices of the Amazon, Sakura, The Great Winter, The Enchantress and Grammy award-nominated Inala. Each segment offered just a taste of what’s in store for viewers of the full productions in the future, from spirited Zulu ballet to a lively re-imagining of Japanese fan dancing.

Acclaimed actors Jeremy Irons, who presented the performances, and Joely Richardson each lend their voices to Voices of the Amazon and The Great Winter respectively, and the London Contemporary Voices choir joined Alfie Boe in a song for the latter. A behind-the-scenes video preceded each excerpt, where performers and those involved behind the scenes were able to have their say on the artistic validity of and method behind each of the different works.

Inala – meaning “abundance of goodwill” in Zulu – will have its West End premiere at London’s Peacock Theatre from 29^th April until 19^th May 2019, and following a run at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore will tour the UK. 

Aidan Milan
Photo: Joanne Davidson