Acrobuffos – husband and wife team Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone, in collaboration with air sculptor Daniel Wurtzel – bring us a circus-style, visually therapeutic show in Air Play.

The couple have a fascinating history worth investigating, and as they literally immerse themselves in huge balloons during the piece (Christina’s wedding dress was even made out of tiny white balloons!) they clearly have a love for their art.

Almost no dialogue is used during the performance, nor is it needed. Only when Seth gives a leaf blower to an unsuspecting audience member and it goes the wrong way does Seth lets out an amusing howl of “Nooo!”

Both performers end up clambering over seats – and audience members – in pursuit of their balloons, ruffling hair and leaning on people’s heads or shoulders as they go, to the shock of some adults and delight of the children.

Flying umbrellas, glitter and the creation of a huge snow globe wouldn’t look out of place in a fantasy film or elaborate music video.

It’s an ambitious routine, especially when your audience is made up of so many youngsters. There is a deliberate sense of organised chaos, which keeps everyone, including the smallest of spectators, mesmerised.

A father and daughter are brought up onto the stage to play in another sweet moment, and amid the havoc are stunning quieter scenes. Iridescent organza material billows above our heads, almost kissing the circle; in others the fabric flows like a murmuration of starlings across the stage, accompanied by serene music: Over The Rainbow. My childhood imagination takes over, a billowing white cloth turns into a majestic jellyfish in my mind’s eye – it’s easy to be captivated.

A performance where your inner child is embraced and allowed to run free for an hour, the play demonstrates its global appeal, which succeeds in the duo’s aim of making “the ordinary extraordinary”.

NAOMI LANIGHAN

4.5/5