Ahead of Ruby’s Worry at Lakeside Arts, we met MishMash founder and director Liz Muge and Ruby’s Worry director Hannah Stone – two Nottingham creatives reminding families that classical music is for everyone, including young first-timers.
The room settles into an excited hush as a violinist begins to play. A child leans forward, eyes bright; a viola answers like a friend. This is MishMash Productions at work – where live classical music is warm, playful, and welcoming.
MishMash began with curiosity and the sense that something was missing: classical music that was truly engaging and accessible to children. For Liz Muge, that spark ignited through visits to children’s theatre at Lakeside Arts. After researching and developing a more audience‑focused way of presenting classical music, she co‑produced MishMash’s first production, Hubbub, in 2015 with Lakeside’s support. The show marked the beginning of a journey grounded in the belief that young audiences deserve rich, inspiring artistic experiences that reimagine how classical music can be encountered. “Without the exposure Lakeside gave me to really excellent children’s theatre and dance, I wouldn’t have known what was possible,” Liz said.
MishMash Productions at MfM 2021. Photo by Erik Brandsborg
MishMash Productions at MfM 2021. Photo by Erik Brandsborg
Their most recent production, Ruby’s Worry, is based on the popular children’s book by Tom Percival, published by Bloomsbury. This is MishMash’s third collaboration with Nottingham’s library services, a relationship first formed in 2017 with Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, leading to Smile in 2017, Strange Creatures in 2019, and now Ruby’s Worry in 2024. In MishMash’s adaptation, Ruby’s worry grows and shifts in shape and sound, bringing her inner world vividly to life. Through gentle classical melodies and expressive visuals, the production turns emotion into something children can see, hear, and understand. Warm and reassuring, Ruby’s Worry invites young audiences to recognise their own feelings and discover that worries, when shared, don’t have to grow so big.
Ruby's Worry Mish Mash Productions. Photo by Tom Platinum Morley
Ruby's Worry Mish Mash Productions. Photo by Tom Platinum Morley
One of the most distinctive elements of MishMash’s approach is the belief that music is a powerful form of communication. In their storytelling, music becomes a language capable of expressing feelings words cannot. Director Hannah Stone describes their process: “We began with a playlist created by Sophie Rivlin, the musical director, of tracks she felt reflected the different stages of the story and elicited the emotions Ruby experiences. We then narrowed it down, wanting a variety of music to keep the piece moving and reflect Ruby’s changing feelings. The book is brought to life not only through beautiful live music, but also through narration, physical storytelling, and puppetry.”
Liz continues: “We always work with theatre directors to stage our performances, but the staging, as well as the design, the movement, the puppetry is about using the eyes to support the ears – how movement, staging, and different presentation techniques can help audiences engage and connect with the music.”
MishMash’s work offers a visually and sonically rich way for children to explore emotions, inviting them into a world where feelings can be understood through sound, movement, and colour. Hannah hopes children leave feeling reassured: “Everyone gets worried, and it’s a really normal emotion,” she says—opening the door to conversations at home.
MishMash Productions and Scottish Ensemble. Photo by Tommy Ga- Ken Wan
MishMash Productions and Scottish Ensemble. Photo by Tommy Ga- Ken Wan
Liz’s commitment to developing a truly audience‑focused way of presenting classical music makes MishMash Productions distinctive, with storytelling that supports – rather than distracts from – the music, creating an engaging introduction to classical sound worlds.
Beyond the stage, MishMash’s work is rooted in community connection. Through partnerships with libraries, schools and creative organisations, the company brings live performance into accessible, familiar spaces, encouraging new audiences to discover the arts. Returning to local, supportive venues like Lakeside Arts is especially meaningful, creating opportunities for families to enjoy their work close to home. As Nottingham‑based Hannah Stone shares, “It’s really lovely to invite friends and family to see the show close to where I live.”
Ruby’s Worry is aimed at children aged 3–7 and tours this spring, showing at Lakeside Arts on 8 February.
