As Edinburgh’s festival season kicks off, veteran actor Brian Cox takes center stage in Make It Happen, a sharp-witted production delving into the dramatic collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland. At 79, Cox portrays the ghost of economist Adam Smith, bringing a moral lens to a story of financial ruin.
The play, a collaboration between the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep, arrives as one of the most talked-about performances at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival. Amid thousands of shows across the city, Cox’s return to Scottish theater carries personal weight. Reflecting on his upbringing in Dundee—marked by hardship after losing his father at eight and witnessing his mother’s struggles—he rejects pity, framing it as formative.
“People forget where they come from,” Cox remarked. “My roots shaped me. Dundee taught me resilience.”
The production scrutinizes the unchecked ambition behind RBS’s downfall, with Sandy Grierson stepping into the role of former CEO Fred Goodwin—once celebrated, later infamous. Rather than painting Goodwin as a lone villain, the play questions the broader culture of financial euphoria that preceded the 2008 crash.
Beyond the stage, Cox shows no signs of slowing down. After this run, he’ll tour a solo show based on his memoir and debut as a film director with Glenrothan, a Scottish whisky dynasty drama. “At this age,” he said, “protest feels like the most vital act. People deserve better.”
For Cox, Make It Happen isn’t just a critique of banking excess—it’s a call to reckon with societal values. As audiences flock to Edinburgh’s theaters, the play’s timing feels as urgent as its message.
