Brian Cox is to star in a play at the Edinburgh Festival billed as a “biting satire” of a stage production “on the Scottish banking ambition that shattered the global economy.”
Make It Happen tells the story of disgraced banker Fred Goodwin and the “rise, fall and fail of the biggest bank in the world – The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).”
It will be performed at the Festival Theatre from July 30 through August 9.
“At the helm is Fred ‘The Shred’ Goodwin, armed with an unshakeable belief in the wisdom of the ‘founder of modern capitalism’, Adam Smith,” said Festival Theatre.
“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.
“Following his outstanding portrayal of the title character in Lanark at the International Festival, Sandy Grierson takes on the role of Goodwin.”
The play is written by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England) and directed by Andrew Panton.
The story delves into the “unchecked growth, spiralling greed and nail-biting hubris that brought the world’s economy to its knees” via “decadence, world-domination and dizzying descent.”
The theatre added: “This is a fictionalised satire, featuring a mixture of characters and incidents inspired by real-life events, with others entirely imagined.”
A co-production between National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre, Make It Happen is presented in association with Playful Productions and Neal Street Productions.
Prior to its run at the Festival Theatre, the play has a sold out run at the Dundee Rep from July 18 to 26.