Make It Happen

Dundee Rep Theatre and Festival Theatre, Edinburgh International Festival

Jul - Aug 2025 | Dundee and Edinburgh

Overview

Behold the rise, fall and fail of the biggest bank in the world – The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Helmed by Fred “The Shred” Goodwin, with his fervent belief in the wisdom of the ‘founder of modern capitalism’, Adam Smith, the once prudent RBS soars and then plummets, placing Scotland at the heart of the global financial crash of 2008.

Set in Edinburgh, Make it Happen sees legendary actor Brian Cox return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade as Adam Smith, the ghost of fiscal past. Written by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England), hailed as one of the most influential and finger-on-the-pulse writers of our time, and directed by the award-winning Andrew Panton, this bitingly funny new satire delves into the unchecked growth, spiralling greed and nail-biting hubris that brought the world’s economy to its knees.

Written by James Graham

Directed by Andrew Panton

Co-produced by National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival
and Dundee Rep Theatre

In association with Playful Productions and Neal Street Productions

Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown

This is a fictionalised satire, featuring a mixture of characters and incidents inspired by real-life events, with others entirely imagined.

Cast

Creative team