Review: FIVE DAYS IN THE SUN at Sadler's Wells

The work is set to Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, which is a beautiful piece of music. Mahler’s own story when composing this piece is a direct influence on the creation of Five Days in the Sun. Symphony No. 5 was composed after a near-death experience which Mahler suffered due to a health complication. This same year, he began a romance with Alma Schindler, and the two were married the following summer. The dance piece is inspired by Mahler’s experiences with mortality and romance.

The movement in the performance is impressive, with some particularly talented dancers in its cast. The choreography calls back to itself, revisiting steps from the beginning almost as if it were a lasting memory in the dancers’ minds or a cycle of life that they are repeating. Some acts had significantly stronger storylines than others, making them easier to interpret Gat’s intention with the piece. I particularly enjoyed the second act for this reason; it felt like the connection to the dancers and the movement was much more tangible. The whole piece however, has strong visual appeal with an interesting mix of sharp and fluid motions which ensure audience engagement and attention.

The costume design by Inez Wicher in this performance is very clever. For the first, second and final acts, the dancers are dressed in beautiful, draped gowns. The garment fabric enhances the dancers’ movement, with a gorgeous ripple effect and fluidity. It’s a contrast to the modernity of the costumes worn in the other acts, presenting a dichotomy between reality and life on earth against an ethereal existence beyond the known world. It links and loops back on the themes of Mahler’s near-death experience and awareness of one’s own mortality.

Overall, Five Days in the Sun is a contemporary exploration of life and death, set to a superb piece of classical music. It would be a great watch for those with an understanding or existing love for contemporary and interpretive pieces.