EDINBURGH 2025 Review: MAKE IT HAPPEN, Starring Brian Cox

Make It Happen is a world premiere at Edinburgh’s International Festival, co-produced with the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep Theatre. Written by James Graham and directed by Andrew Panton it is a sharp satirical look at the Royal Bank of Scotland scandal.

Set in Edinburgh, Sandy Grierson plays Fred Goodwin, a man determined to make The Royal Bank of Scotland the world’s number one bank. Starting off in fifth or sixth place, he looks to the writings of his hero Adam Smith for guidance as to how to secure the top spot. What follows is some ill-advised acquisitions and a determination to be seen as the Scottish success story.

Brian Cox plays Adam Smith, a ghostly guide who appears only to Goodwin. With Graham’s trademark sharp writing, Cox has plenty to work with. He’s a commanding presence onstage and switches wonderfully between serious, impassioned monologue and also a man from the 18th century who is pleasantly surprised by scented candles. 

Grierson’s Goodwin is a complex character. He’s charismatic and trustworthy- all the while taking a huge salary and gambling with customer’s life savings. He manages to justify this behaviour insisting that it is what Adam Smith wanted for Scotland. To be number one- no matter the cost to the people. 

Make It Happen has a solid ensemble cast made up of some fantastic Scottish talent. Emily Jane Boyle’s movement direction keeps things tight and the musical interludes work really well. 

The backdrop of a bank isn’t something you would think is particularly thrilling but Anna Fleischie’s set design is brilliantly dramatic and the video projections are striking and make this quite the atmospheric piece.