Brighton Dome: Air Play
A stunning mix of clowning, circus and more brings wonder to the festive season
This Christmas, enter a world of flying umbrellas, giant kites floating over the audience, and the biggest snow globe you’ve ever seen. Air Play, coming to Brighton Dome Concert Hall from Thursday 21 December to Tuesday 26 December, brings to life the very air we breathe, weaving together breathtaking circus, comedy and dazzling scenic effects for a family show that captures both the wonder and the excitement of the season.
Two siblings set out on an unforgettable adventure in which the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary, and air, wind and space become agents of astonishment. In epic set-pieces of uncommon beauty, fabrics dance in the wind, balloons have a mind of their own, and confetti turns into the night sky. Through it all, laugh-out-loud comedy is never far away.
Acrobuffos, the company behind the show, consists of husband and wife clown partners Seth Bloom & Christina Gelsone, who are based in New York but met at a circus in Afghanistan. Since becoming clown partners in 2006, they have created five shows together, competed in international circus festivals, and their wordless shows have been performed in over 18 countries. The New York Times profiled Seth & Christina in 2009 and created an informative 3 minute video about the couple that you can watch at goo.gl/UZwXEr.
Breathtaking circus, comedy and dazzling scenic effects
Seth is a former professional juggler who graduated from three clown schools and makes each clown mask by hand. Christina is a former professional ballerina who graduated from Princeton to become a clown. They continue to teach social circus in post-conflict zones, and have remained dedicated to projects in Afghanistan with the Mobile Mini Circus for Children.
Air Play was devised through years of experimentation with simple materials, movement and technology and has played around the globe, from Teatro del Lago in Chile to Shanghai’s Grand Theatre. Reviews have been positive: British Theatre Guide enthused that “Air Play holds the entire audience in the palm of its outstretched hand”, whereas Sydney Morning Herald lauded the show as “a joy from start to finish, Air Play will entrance children and act as a great reset button for stressed adults”.
If you’re searching for a big, bold and beautiful show for all the family this Christmas then Air Play could be the flight of fancy you’re looking for. Head to goo.gl/umemnS to check out a trailer which gives a good impression of the colour, movement and joy of the work. With visual images seemingly sewn from the sky, this poetic ode to childhood will enchant and electrify both the young and the young-at-heart.
Air Play, Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Thursday 21 December to Tuesday 26 December, £10 to £18.50
Q&A with Acrobuffos Fri 22 Dec, 6.30pm performance
Highly Visual | Relaxed Performance: Sat 23 Dec 2.30pm
brightondome.org, 01273 709709
