The Fifth Sun – Dublin Dance Festival – Review

The Fifth Sun – Mufutau Yusuf | Luail – Ireland’s National Dance Company
World Premiere – Ireland

Dates: Thu 14—Sat 16 May 2026 

Note – Review on Thursday, the 14th of May, – Preview for opening night on the 15th of May.

The piece begins in near-total darkness. One by one, the performers emerge, walking slowly from the rear of the auditorium toward the back of the stage. Dressed entirely in white — one of the few reasons they remain visible in the half-light — they appear ghostly and otherworldly. Their faces are covered, and their measured, slow-motion movements give them the appearance of automatons. This bleak procession serves as the introduction to a work described as “a eulogy and a renewal, a ceremony that reflects on humanity’s past, confronts our turbulent present, and leans cautiously toward an uncertain future.”

The stillness does not last. Over the course of the hour-long production, the pace and intensity build steadily into something genuinely striking. The nine dancers pound the floor in unison, flailing limbs and bodies to relentless tribal rhythms. Lighting plays a crucial role throughout. At first, it is the absence of light that dominates, with the production opening in near darkness, but illumination gradually intensifies, creating an effective visual contrast. Toward the end, the light begins to recede once more, echoing the transition from day to night. Composer Tom Lane’s soundtrack follows a similar trajectory. It begins sparsely, with little more than scraping and tapping sounds, before swelling into primal percussion and keening female vocals as the dancers stomp and cavort across the stage.

The stage itself is almost bare, save for a rectangular structure positioned in one corner. Covered in etchings and indistinct markings, it becomes an object of intrigue. The audience is left to wonder about its significance: is it a religious symbol, a relic, or something else entirely?

This is the latest production from Luail, Ireland’s National Dance Company. The choreographer, Mufutau Yusuf, has collaborated with the company before, most notably on Invocation, which was performed at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre during last year’s Dublin Dance Festival.

If the production has a weakness, it lies in the sections that bookend the piece. The opening unfolds at a deliberately slow pace, while the restrained finale carries a similar sense of prolonged control. Though these quieter passages may be intended to contrast with the frenetic energy at the work’s core, both could have benefited from greater brevity. It is the central section that truly captivates, transporting the audience into a wild and dangerous world where feral dancers move in tightly controlled formations. The choreography is precise and powerful, while Tom Lane’s pounding soundtrack amplifies the sense of fury and intensity that drives the performance forward.

Cast and Team

Choreographer – Mufutau Yusuf
Composer & Sound Designer – Tom Lane
Lighting Designer – Lee Curran
Costume Designer – Alison Brown
Set Design by Mufutau Yusuf with Niall McKeever
Stage Manager – Lisa Krugel
Assistant Stage Manager – Alison O’Shea
Chief LX / Programmer – Eoin Lennon
Audio Technician – John Norton
Head Lighting Technician – Ross McSherry
Costume Supervisor – Gillian Lennox
Wardrobe Maintenance – Megan Culleton

CAST

Robyn Byrne, Jou-Hsin Chu, Clara Kerr, Sean Lammer, Tom O’ Gorman, Hamza Pirimo, Rosie Stebbing, Meghan Stevens

Chi Liu (University of Limerick MA Placement Student)