What's On? Mix Up Recommendations
- Mix Up Theatre (Stewart)
- 4 hours ago
- 9 min read
Mix Up Theatre provides a few recommendations from students, families and teachers for things to see and do!
Seen anything good lately? Send us in a quick review and a rating for anything live, theatre, comedy, online or cinema based and we'll add it to our recommendations list.
E-mail: info@mixuptheatre.com
Film - Cinema
★★★★★
Gifted runner Togashi dominates 100m races until transfer student Komiya arrives, motivating him to train harder. Years later, they compete as rivals on the racetrack.
Olivia (Age 13) - ★★★★★
"100 Meters is such a fun movie for anyone who likes sports, running, anime or just films in general, it's perfect for everyone, any age.
The drawings were so amazing it felt like the characters were in the real world it was super realistic, and the music was perfect although a little loud.
The transitions between scenes was very clever and it made it so that you're not bored and you get to see the perfect amount of all characters. It's also very clear that everyone involved in the making of this fantastic movie put their all into it, from the detailed drawings, to the perfect scrips everything was so perfect!
The comedy side of things was amazing, they told jokes without telling jokes, for example in a q&a, the man answering questions kept giving vague but detailed answers that nobody knew how to respond to, or when the main character Togashi broke down crying and everyone was just silently judging. 🤣
I also really liked the plot twists and I thought them putting Togashi and Komiya next to each other in every race was so smart, I thought I knew what was going to happen towards the end but I was so wrong, the writers did SUCH an amazing job with making the twists realistic but also unexpected.
The movie is in Japanese and there were English subtitles, usually subtitles are distracting but these were perfectly placed so I could see the characters and the text at the same time and tell what was going on.
You don't have to like anime to watch this, I didn't really watch anime before but this has definitely inspired me to watch more movies like this. 5 stars!"
Have you seen it?
Book
★★★★★
Shakespeare's Macbeth like you've never seen it - or read it - before!
Stewart - ★★★★★
"An excellent adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play in graphic novel format. This will appeal to many, those looking for an introduction to the Scottish play and those who are already big fans - like me! The illustrations are fantastic as is all the extra information that comes at the end of the book. Highly recommended and look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!"
Theatre
★★★★★
The Other Place, Stratford-Upon-Avon - until 6th December
Daniel Raggett, whose acclaimed Edward II played in the Swan Theatre earlier this year, directs Shakespeare’s story of love, power and ambition in the intimate setting of The Other Place. Sam Heughan (Outlander, Love Again) makes his RSC debut as Macbeth. Lia Williams (The Crown, Skylight) is Lady Macbeth.
Olivia (Age 13) - ★★★★★
"The Rsc's (Royal Scottish Company's) take on Shakespeares iconic play Macbeth is honestly breathtaking.
We were in front row so had the amazing privilege to be so close to the actors and basically sitting on stage as the experimental theatre The Other Place in Stratford upon Avon is quite small.
The actors used the whole room as their stage so there was no chance of getting a 'bad' seat. The way they portrayed their characters in their own way while keeping Shakespeare's original intentions was immaculate.
It's a suggested 14+ show as it is quite violent and loud. During scene changes the lights went off and it was pitch black, I don't know how the actors could see with just very small flashlights that looked like just a dot, it was extremely impressive! Also during scene changes they had blaring music like the ground was shaking kind of loud, definitely bring earbuds if you're sensitive to noise.
Some characters were smoking (fake cigarettes I think!) So it smelled a little bad for a bit. In one scene they had a fire in the bar set and the alarm part of that scene was so exquisite.
After the show, Sam Heughan (Macbeth) did stage door and signed stuff for people but while he was doing that I got to meet my favorite actor Calum Ross (Malcom)! He plays Rowan in Wednesday so it was an amazing experience for me, I got to give him a bracelet and take photos with him!
This show is so impressive and amazing if you're a Shakespeare fan or a fan of history in general! 5 stars definitely, if I could give it more I would, definitely see if you get the opportunity to!"
Film - Cinema
★★★★★
A dying prisoner reflects on his final summer of freedom in 1986, when he lived with a woman and her son surrounded by Housenka flowers. As death approaches, one of these flowers guides him through memories of his past as a yakuza.
Matthew (Age 15) - ★★★★★
"The Last Blossom is a beautiful, tragic film about the life of the main character Akutsu. The film is told through flashbacks Akutsu has as he lays dying in prison, discussing his life with a talking balsam flower, who berates him over the fact that his fear that getting close to those he loved would put them in danger meant that he never told them how he truly felt, leaving him alone in a prison cell for 30 years. Akutsu refutes this, but it is up to us to decide if he truly wasted his life, or if his sacrifice was worth it to ensure the safety of those he cared for. The scene where Akutsu manages to "turn it around" was truly masterful, signalling both a continuation of Akutsu's love for his family and the end of his life. The Last Blossom's ending is both tragic and beautiful, as Nana, the woman Akutsu loved, finds out that he loved her back, but only after years of wondering. The Last Blossom truly is a beautiful and heartfelt story about the struggle to provide for your family and the things you are willing to sacrifice for their happiness."
How do you rate this movie?...
Film / Series - Cinema
★★★★★
8 short stories created by Tatsuki Fujimoto when he was 17 - 26 years old
Stewart - ★★★★★
"A wild, surreal journey through 8 fantastic stories from Tatsuki Fujimoto. The animation and music choice is brilliant throughout.
Everyone will have their favourites but highlights for me were...
A Couple Clucking Chickens Were Still Kickin' in the Schoolyard - a weird and hilarious look at the aftermath of an alien invasion where two humans remain in disguise. There's lots of fun here seeing the aliens taking up human activities. Nice twists in the story as well. And very funny to have a Totoro style song play us out.
Sasaki Stopped a Bullet + Love is Blind - Really funny shorts where love conquers all in unusual manners. The audience really lapped these two up as well.
The rest are all fantastically bizarre and fun - the only low point was the message behind Woke-Up-As-A-Girl Syndrome which seemed to imply that boys crying was "girly". Probably not the best message to be sending out to boys and young men - so perhaps a little behind here - though the animation was still great.
Overall a brilliant series of short films which was great to see at the wonderful Scotland Loves Anime festival."
How do you rate this movie?...
Film - Cinema
★★★★★
A legendary dhampir competes with a motley family of bounty hunters to return a young woman, who has been seemingly abducted by a vampire, to her family.
Stewart - ★★★★★
"It's a beautifully unique animation that has an eerie Gothic atmosphere. Fantastic character design as well as we follow a male dhampir (half man/vampire) who is hunting down a vampire who has abducted a young woman.
Alongside him is a crew of bounty hunters on the same mission whilst the vampire himself is protected by a dangerous group of creatures.
It was great to see this film for the first time up on the big screen, with a fantastic introduction from the Scotland Loves Anime team.
A highly recommended film for fans of vampire tales and animation - surreal, dreamlike and beautiful."
How do you rate this movie?..
Theatre
★★★★★
Lyceum Theatre, London
Nina (Age 13) - ★★★★★
"I have no words! It’s one of the best musicals Ive ever seen in my life! The animals go through the audience which makes it feel like you are part of the show! The puppetry is out of this world and the masks are insanely good! The songs are beautiful and it really focuses on African culture and heritage through the costume designs. The young children in it are amazing for their age! The set is absolutely stunning! The make up and costumes are so gorgeous and amazing! It is so worth seeing!!!"
Theatre
★★★★★
Gershwin Theatre, New York
Nina (Age 13) - ★★★★★
"Wicked is absolutely amazing!!!!! It has wonderful songs and music! The set is outstanding and all the dance routines are brilliant. Glinda is hilarious and Elphaba is such an amazing and powerful character! It’s such an emotional show but it leaves you feeling buzzing!!! The dragon puppet is insane and is such a great part of the show! I would definitely go again and its definitely worth your time!!!"
Theatre
★★★★★
until 22nd November - The Lowry, Manchester
Part of UK Tour...
This electrifying new stage adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller to life like never before.
Olivia (Age 13) - ★★★★★
"The storyline is fairly easy to follow, and they make it simple to know which characters to focus on when so that you're never confused!
Mr. Ripley has conversation with the audience as well as characters and sometimes it overlaps which is a brilliant idea.
And the way he plays a different character while playing himself is truly amazing.
The actors clearly put a lot of effort into this show and it 100% pays off, the lighting, speech and scripts are so wonderfully put together, I would definitely recommend this show for anyone who loves mystery and a wants a plot twist filled show that keeps them guessing right untill the end!
I loved how they easily transition from scenes and there's always someone on stage preforming while the rest are setting up for the next scene so your never once bored.
The repetition was also very well done, A few of the same sentences were used throughout the show and it made you remember the last time they used it and how it linked to the current scene.
This amazing show is definitely 5 stars!"
Theatre
★★★★★
until 22nd November - Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
25th - 29th November - Haymarket, Basingstoke
Part of UK Tour
The game is afoot for the famous Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in this thrilling drama!
Jan (Age 14) - ★★★★1/2
"As someone who has read many Sherlock Holmes books, I was not disappointed by Sherlock Holmes: the Hunt for Moriarty. It was an exciting show that kept me hooked from the beginning. The story was very detailed, it had many twists and turns which made it slightly hard to follow, but it was still amazing to watch.
Sherlock was my favourite character; he was incredibly smart and witty, and rather mysterious. He would notice even the smallest of details and be able to get a lot of information from them. Mark Knightley represented Sherlock perfectly!
The conflict between Moriarty and Holmes was thrilling to watch, as both of them were very intelligent and always trying to outsmart each other. They created some intense scenes and dialogue. They kept the audience on the edge of their seats .
The action scenes were the only part of the show I didn’t enjoy as much. While they were dramatic, which is a good thing, they didn’t always look very convincing. However, the bravery of the characters was portrayed well.
Overall, I really enjoyed this show and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries and interesting characters."
What else is on?
Christmas with Anton Du Beke
Dance
Thursday 27th November, Alhambra Theatre Dunfermline
Embark on a dazzling journey into a festive wonderland as Strictly’s one and only Anton Du Beke brightens up your Christmas with his brand new show – Christmas with Anton Du Beke!
Stick Man
Theatre
20th & 21st November, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes
Freckle Productions present STICK MAN Touching, funny and utterly original, Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is back in town!
Urooj Ashfaq: How to Be a Baddie
Comedy
Sunday 23rd November, Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh
Urooj is an Indian stand-up who hails from a tiny, unknown city called Mumbai. She not only has a degree in psychology but went on to be in therapy herself. What's her show about, you ask? I think you should ask yourself why you insist on knowing everything. Why don't you just show up, be surprised, and go with the flow?
Book Week Scotland
Event - Festival - Books
17th - 23rd November 2025 - Various Venures & Libraries, Scotland
Book Week Scotland is an annual celebration of books and reading. It will take place across Scotland on 17–23 November 2025.
Mix Up Theatre is a youth theatre that runs drama classes for Ages 3-18 throughout Scotland (Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Linlithgow, South Queensferry).
To book in for a free trial you can register HERE
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