Brian Cox is to star in the world premiere of James Graham’s new satire Make It Happen, as the full line up for this years season at the National Theatre of Scotland is announced.

Make It Happen charts the demise of the Royal Bank of Scotland during the 2008 financial crash. Directed by Andrew Panton, the play will preview at Dundee Rep Theatre in late July before running at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre as part of the Edinburgh International Festival from 30 July to 9 August 2025.

Succession’s Brian Cox stars as the “ghost of fiscal past,” portraying legendary Scottish 18th-century economist Adam Smith in a production described as “operatic in scale.” Graham’s drama combines music, larger-than-life characters, cheeky humuor, and a deep dive into the divisive legacies of the financial crisis.

James Graham said: “We still live in the long shadow of the 2008 financial crash and our inability to reset from that inheritance. It feels right to interrogate it artistically—but with music, story, and some ghosts from Scotland’s past thrown in as well. To work with the National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep, and of course Brian Cox is an honour and a thrill.”

Make It Happen is the latest in a string of stage performances by Cox. He most recently appeared in a West End revival of Long Day’s Journey Into Night last year, and next month, he will reprise his performance as JS Bach in The Score, transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Bath.

James Graham’s plays include Ink, Best of Enemies, This House and Dear England. His newest play, Punch transfers to the Young Vic in March following an acclaimed premiere in Nottingham in 2024.

Make It Happen will feature set and design, Anna Fleischle, costume design by Fleischle and Angelica Rush, movement direction by Emily Jane Boyle, music supervision and arrangement by Martin Lowe, lighting design by Lizzie Powell, sound design by Tingying Dong, video design by Lewis den Hertog and Flesichle, and casting by Stuart Burt CDG.

In addition to Make It Happen, the National Theatre of Scotland’s 2025 programme features a wide variety of productions. These include, Martin O’Connor’s Through the Shortbread Tin, which will tour rural venues in April and May; Frances Poet’s Small Acts of Love, a collaboration with composer Ricky Ross reflecting on the bonds forged in Lockerbie after the Pan Am 103 tragedy; and Black Hole Sign by Uma Nada-Rajah, a poignant new drama about the challenges faced by NHS nurses.

The National Theatre of Scotland also announced the West End transfer of David Ireland’s The Fifth Step. Following its Edinburgh debut last year, this acclaimed two-hander starring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman will transfer to London’s @sohoplace for an 11-week run from May to July.