Clowns from Air Play say world needs laughter in Donald Trump era

A clown couple visiting Australia with their colourful act believe people need laughter now, more than ever.

Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone have brought their show Air Play to the State Theatre in Melbourne.

It features the pair inside giant balloons and "air sculpting" — the art of manipulating fabrics and confetti using air.

While the show is apolitical, Bloom said the New Yorkers could not avoid questions about the soon-to-be inaugurated US President-elect, Donald Trump.

"This show was built in an Obama world, when people liked to laugh and see things that were beautiful, so that's the spirit we take forward with us," he joked.

"If we'd made this in the Trump world, it might be even cheekier."

Gelsone said the world needed clowns in times of turmoil.

"During the Great Depression of the 1930s, comedy just found its wings and flew because people needed a way to get out," she said.

"And I think that during this recession that's been happening since 2008 and where politics are going, people just want to come out and be together as a family, and laugh and have a good time and forget about things, be inspired by something."

Their show is wordless, allowing them to tour globally.

Bloom described it as a "visual poem to childhood".

"We like to think of making shows for adults that kids can come to, rather than making shows for kids that adults have to tag along for," he said.

"So we always think about the adults first and know that the kids will be there and we work our comedy from there."

Needing to adapt as public tastes change

Bloom trained as a clown with the famous Ringling Brothers Circus, which just days ago announced it was closing after 146 years.

The company cited declining attendance figures and high operating costs, raising questions about the future of the traditional circuses.

"Ringling Brothers especially brought spectacle to America," Bloom said.

"Big tent shows, 15,000 people, things you'd never seen before, acrobats, elephants, lions — nowadays you can see that on YouTube, you can see it on National Geographic and I think people are interested in a different kind of spectacle."

He said it was sad to see the change in public tastes.

"We have to adapt ... circus is moving much more into theatres and out of tents and I think people want more closer intimate experiences," Bloom said.

But Gelsone said she is confident there is still a future for circus arts.

"You might have to squint a little bit to see it, it'll change it's form, you might not recognise it as circus but it'll still be around," she said.