Brian Cox’s new play, Make It Happen is coming to the Dundee Rep from 18–26 July

Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre have announced preview dates for Make It Happen, a bold new production that marks the return of legendary actor Brian Cox to the stage where his illustrious career began.

The show will run at Dundee Rep Theatre from 18 to 26 July, offering local audiences an exclusive first look before it moves to the Edinburgh International Festival.

Friends of Dundee Rep will have early access to tickets with a pre-sale opening at 12pm on Tuesday 15 April, followed by a general sale at 12pm on Thursday 17 April.

Following its Dundee run, Make It Happen will have its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival, opening the prestigious event’s 2025 theatre programme.

The production will run at the Festival Theatre from 1 to 9 August, with previews on 30 and 31 July.

A homecoming for the legendary actor

A proud Dundonian, Brian Cox first set foot on the Rep stage in 1961 at just 15 years old, starring in The Dover Road and working as a stage manager before launching a career that would see him become one of the world’s most respected actors.

He has maintained close ties with the Rep, returning for its 80th birthday celebrations in 2019 for An Evening with Brian Cox.

Now, he steps back onto his hometown stage in Make It Happen, portraying Adam Smith—Scotland’s “founder of modern capitalism”—alongside Sandy Grierson as Fred “The Shred” Goodwin, the former CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The play explores how Goodwin’s unwavering faith in Smith’s economic philosophy led RBS from financial giant to spectacular collapse, placing Scotland at the epicentre of the 2008 global financial crisis.

A landmark moment for Dundee

Written by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England), one of the UK’s most acclaimed contemporary playwrights, Make It Happen is a sharp and darkly comic take on unchecked ambition, economic turmoil, and the human cost of corporate greed.

It is directed by Andrew Panton, Dundee Rep’s Artistic Director, and is a unique collaboration between Dundee Rep Theatre, the National Theatre of Scotland, and Edinburgh International Festival.

Andrew Panton said:

“It’s a landmark moment for Dundee Rep and our city to welcome legendary actor Brian Cox back onto the Rep stage, having started his career with the theatre 63 years ago.

Dundee audiences will have the unique opportunity of being first to witness Brian telling this vital story of our nation’s recent history, events that had repercussions right across the globe.

We’re proud that our production will then transfer to the Edinburgh International Festival to meet audiences from all over the world.”

With its mix of history, satire, and powerhouse performances, Make It Happen promises to be one of the most talked-about productions of the year.

Tickets are expected to sell fast when they go on sale next month.