Dundee Rep Theatre – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Brian Cox returns to Scottish stages in James Graham’s new play Make It Happen

Brian Cox (Succession, Braveheart) returns to Scottish stages in a new play by leading British playwright James Graham (Dear England, Sherwood)
The first major artwork to tell the story of Royal Bank of Scotland’s role in the 2008 financial crash

WORLD PREMIERE

A National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre co-production in association with Playful Productions and Neal Street Productions

Make It Happen
Written by James Graham
Directed by Andrew Panton
With Brian Cox

Opening performance of the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival on Friday 1 August 2025, then running until Saturday 9 August. Previewing at Dundee Rep Theatre in late July and at the International Festival on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 July.

Make It Happen is an epic new satirical play by acclaimed playwright James Graham, directed by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre. This unique co-production between National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre marks the return of Brian Cox to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade.

The world premiere of Make It Happen opens the Edinburgh International Festival’s 2025 programme of theatre, music, opera, and dance. It runs for a week at the Festival Theatre from 1–9 August, with previews at the International Festival on 30 and 31 July and at Dundee Rep Theatre from late July.

‘There is no such thing – as too big.’

Behold the rise, fall and fail of the biggest bank in the world – The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Helmed by Fred ”The Shred” Goodwin, with his fervent belief in the wisdom of the ‘founder of modern capitalism’, Adam Smith, the once prudent RBS soon 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. Written by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England), hailed as one of the most influential and finger-on-the-pulse writers of our time, and directed by the award-winning Andrew Panton, this bitingly funny new satire delves into the unchecked growth, spiralling greed and nail-biting hubris that brought the world’s economy to its knees.

This fictionalised satire features a mixture of characters and incidents inspired by real-life events, with others entirely imagined.

James Graham, writer, said: “Like many writers, an Edinburgh stage is the first place ever I dared put a full play in front of an audience.

“To be invited to join the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival programme this summer is an honour and a thrill. And to work with the National Theatre of Scotland, the Dundee Rep, and of course – Brian Cox, whom I’ve been desperate to write for for as long as I can remember.

We still live in the long shadow of the 2008 financial crash and our inability to reset from that inheritance and its divisive legacies, so it feels right to be interrogating it artistically. But we hope to do so in a show full of music and story, larger-than-life characters, cheeky humour, and some ghosts from Scotland’s centuries’ long past thrown in as well…”

Andrew Panton, director, said: ”It’s a personal honour and huge responsibility to tell what became a global story that started in the city close to where I grew up.

“Working with an exceptionally talented cast, creative and production teams, I’m excited to be directing this new play, bringing it to audiences at Dundee Rep Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival stages.”

Brian Cox, actor, said: “I’m excited to be doing a play written by James Graham who is such a great writer.

“It’s been a long time since I played in Scotland – it’s good to be back.”

Jackie Wylie, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland said: “I am thrilled that audiences will get to experience the combined talents of James Graham and Brian Cox, taking on the collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland in this epic new play, directed by the gifted Andrew Panton, produced in partnership with the brilliant institutions, Dundee Rep and Edinburgh International Festival.

“Dealing with seismic global moments that have shaped our national psyche, at the world’s most significant arts Festival is the perfect project for the National Theatre of Scotland and we are truly proud of this special collaboration”

Nicola Benedetti, Edinburgh International Festival Director, said: “We are extremely proud to present a brand-new play by James Graham, ‘Make It Happen’, which will open the 2025 International Festival in August.

“This co-commission with the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep demonstrates our ongoing commitment to bringing vital Scottish stories to the world stage, and invites us to examine events that took place in Edinburgh but rippled across the globe.

“Illuminating this year’s festival theme ‘The Truth We Seek’, ‘Make it Happen’ exemplifies the level of ambition and thought-provoking work that defines the Edinburgh International Festival. We cannot wait to see you there.”

Paisley born Fred Goodwin was the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group between 2001 and 2009, presiding over RBS’s rapid rise to become the world’s largest company (by assets) and the fifth-largest bank (by stock market value), and their even more rapid fall in 2008, which coincided with the worldwide economic crisis. Make It Happen is the first major artwork exploring RBS’s role in this tumultuous period in recent history.

‘James Graham is fast becoming the pre-eminent playwright of his generation.’ The Guardian

James Graham is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright, whose recent work includes Dear England (National Theatre of GB and West End) which won the Olivier award for Best Play in 2024 and is currently being adapted into a BBC miniseries.

Other theatre work includes: This House (National Theatre of GB, West End and UK tour), which was chosen by popular vote as the best play of the 2010’s for the major theatre publisher Methuen; Punch (Nottingham Playhouse and transferring to the Young Vic in spring 2025); Best of Enemies (Young Vic, 2022), winner of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award; Tammy Faye (The Almeida), and Ink (The Almeida), which transferred to Broadway and was nominated for six Tony Awards; Labour of Love (Noel Coward Theatre, 2018) which won the Olivier award for Best Comedy.

For television, James is the writer and creator of Sherwood which first aired on BBC One in 2022 to five star reviews, winning the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama and two BAFTAS. Other TV includes Brexit: An Uncivil War, broadcast on Channel 4 and HBO, and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. His Channel 4 drama, Coalition won the RTS Award for Best Single Drama (2019), and Quiz (ITV and AMC), adapted from his stage play and directed by Stephen Frears, was one of the most watched UK TV dramas of 2020.

Andrew Panton is an award-winning theatre director and currently Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Dundee Rep Theatre. For Dundee Rep, his directorial credits include August: Osage County, The Children, A Christmas Carol, Oor Wullie, Passing Places and Spring Awakening.

He has previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland as director on digital lockdown short Out of the Woods with Alan Cumming and A Sheep Called Skye, and as staff director on the original UK & International tours of Black Watch. He has also directed productions for the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Royal & Derngate, Perth Theatre and The Stephen Joseph Theatre.

His recent work includes A History of Paper, which won a Scotsman Fringe First, an immersive production of Peter Greenaway’s The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, and the gig-theatre musical No Love Songs which will transfer to Sydney and New York in spring 2025. Andrew’s work for television includes: Children in Need, The Naked Choir and The Voice (BBC) and he was a creative director for the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Brian Cox is an award-winning Scottish actor, known for his work on stage and screen. Born in Dundee, he trained at Dundee Rep Theatre before going on to work at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company where he first gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear.

His numerous accolades include two Olivier Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Recent entries on his extensive list of theatre credits include Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Wyndham’s Theatre) and The Score (Theatre Royal Bath). His screen work includes Succession (HBO), Braveheart (Paramount Pictures, 20^th Century Fox) and Nuremberg (TNT).

Brian returns to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade, last appearing on Scottish stages in 2015 in Waiting For Godot at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. He previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland in 2020 when he played Inspector Rebus in a special digital short, John Rebus: The Lockdown Blues written by Ian Rankin for their lockdown Scenes for Survival series, created in partnership with BBC Scotland.

Creative Team: Set Designer: Anna Fleischle; Costume Co-Designers: Anna Fleischle and Angelica Rush; Movement Director: Emily Jane Boyle; Musical Supervisor and Arranger: Martin Lowe; Lighting Designer: Lizzie Powell; Sound Designer: Tingying Dong; Video co-designers: Lewis den Hertog and Anna Fleischle; Associate Designer: Angelica Rush; Casting Director: Stuart Burt CDG

Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown

Make It Happen is also supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund through Creative Scotland.

Previewing at Dundee Rep Theatre (late July); opening at Edinburgh International Festival, at the Festival Theatre, (previews Wed 30 & Thurs 31 July) Fri 1 August – Sat 9 August

Full cast to be announced.

More information here: https://www.eif.co.uk/events/make-it-happen

Tickets will go on sale for performances at Edinburgh International Festival on 27 March, with priority booking available.

The Edinburgh International Festival’s full programme will be announced on 13 March 2025.

Artists announced for major new musical theatre residency in Scotland

Dundee Rep Theatre and Cove Park are today delighted to announce the musical theatre artists who will participate in a pioneering new creative residency programme in Scotland this Spring.

The Musical Theatre Writing Residency is a two-week international programme for emerging and established book writers, composers, and lyricists from the UK, India, and the United States.

Taking place in the stunning surroundings of Cove Park from 4 – 17 March, the programme will see writing teams provided with an immersive and creative space to freely connect, develop, collaborate and create ideas for new musical theatre works.

Artists were invited to apply as teams of up to three collaborators with a musical theatre idea in need of development, ready to take it to the next stage in its creation. Following a competitive selection process that saw nearly 200 applications, thirteen artists will take part in the residency fortnight, with a diverse range of multigenerational creative voices at different stages in their careers.

The artistic collaborators will include Scotland/UK-based artists Debbie Hannan and Andy McGregor; Linda McLean and David Paul Jones; Samir Bhamra, Devesh Sodha and Robby Khela; Jonathan O’Neill and Isaac Savage; US-artists Nikki Lynette and Lili-Anne Brown; and Indian artist Sushma Soma.

The residency will see the teams developing their ideas, with projects and themes including a punk rock musical based on the story of some of Scotland’s most militant suffragettes, a 90s-inspired sci-fi romp set around Scottish UFO hotspot Bonnybridge, and a haunting horror musical that blends dark rock, urban grime, pop, and cinematic scores with Hindu mythology.

The residency has been developed by Dundee Rep Theatre and Cove Park alongside twelve Scottish and international partners, making it one of the largest collaborative projects in the recent history of the performing arts in Scotland.

Partners include Capital Theatres, Citizens Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, National Centre for the Performing Arts (Mumbai), National Theatre of Scotland, Octopus Theatricals (New York City), Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and the Traverse Theatre.

Associate partners include A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and the Tron Theatre.

Working alongside Cove Park and Dundee Rep, the partner organisations will play a valuable role supporting the artists with their own rich and varied expertise. All partners are committed to developing the musical theatre landscape, both in Scotland and further afield. This pilot residency is majority-funded as part of the British Council & Creative Scotland Partnership: Connect & Collaborate.

The residency has been devised by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre, and will include facilitated sessions with Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare (formerly Director of New Work Development at The Public Theater), Music Supervisor James McKeon (Musical Director: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, London), Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director of Goodspeed Musicals, Connecticut and David Greig, Artistic Director of Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Shonagh Murray joins as Associate Musical Supervisor, with Imogen Stirling, supported by Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, joining as Associate Dramaturg.

The creatives will also benefit from networking opportunities and workshop sessions, both in-person and digital, with industry-leading writers, composers, producers, directors, and other theatre practitioners – including Tony® Award-winning director John Doyle, Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning producer Mara Isaacs, Tony® Award-winning producer Rashad V. Chambers, and more.

Andrew Panton, Artistic Director at Dundee Rep Theatre, said: “This residency has been a number of years in the making. I’m thrilled that so many sector-leading organisations in Scotland, India and the US have joined Dundee Rep and Cove Park to present this residency.

“We will be creating a safe space for the participating artists to experiment with their work and the form. We know that there is huge audience demand for musical theatre and this is an opportunity for our participants to learn from industry-leading experts and from each other, I believe that this is a huge investment in the talent that we need to create the next decade of great musicals.”

Mara Isaacs, Creative Producer & Founder, Octopus Theatricals, said: “This residency represents the kind of multi-national, multi- sector collaboration that is essential to the flourishing of our field.

“There’s no telling what inspirational sparks will fly in a room filled with and supported by theatre companies, artists and colleagues representing the future of musical theatre in the UK, the US and India.”

Alex Marrs, Programmes & Communications Producer at Cove Park, said: “We look forward to welcoming this exciting cohort of musical theatre creators to Cove Park.

“This residen”cy expresses our core aim to provide a supportive space for risk and experimentation and addresses the acute and growing need for funded musical theatre development opportunities in Scotland.

“Alongside such inspiring partner organisations, we are delighted to support the creation of innovative and ambitious musicals for the benefit of audiences nationally and internationally.“

Dundee Rep has long been associated with new musical theatre, notably being the originating producer of new musicals including No Love Songs, Sunshine on Leith, Hi My Name is Ben (with Goodspeed Musicals, Connecticut), A Christmas Carol and Oor Wullie. Development, progression and learning sit at the heart of the organisation placing value on the collaboration and nurture of a diverse range of creative voices at different ages and stages of career.

Just one hour north of Glasgow, Cove Park is an international residency based on an outstanding 50-acre rural site on Scotland’s west coast.

Often working in partnership with leading organisations to develop commissions, exhibitions, and international residency exchanges, Cove Park’s programmes provide professional and creative development opportunities that support research, experimentation, and collaboration.

Cove Park offers uniquely designed private accommodation, studios, and workspace to create an inspiring context in which artists can progress ideas, acquire new skills, and develop work for audiences throughout the UK and beyond.

More information on the residency can be found at:

www.musicaltheatrewritingresidency.uk

Cove Park & Dundee Rep announce new musical theatre writing residency and call for applications

A new residency for musical theatre writers, composers, and lyricists from the UK, India and the United States

Presented by Cove Park and Dundee Rep Theatre in partnership with Capital Theatres, Citizens Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, National Centre for the Performing Arts – Mumbai, National Theatre of Scotland, Octopus Theatricals – New York City, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, and Traverse Theatre.

Associate partners include A Play, A Pie and a Pint, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and Tron Theatre.

With their rich and varied expertise, the partners will work with Cove Park and Dundee Rep and play a valuable role in this project. Providing mentoring, support and feedback as required during the residency, they will help enrich the writers’ experience. All partners are committed to developing the musical theatre landscape, both in Scotland and further afield.

The residency has been devised by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre, and will include facilitated sessions with Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare (formerly Director of New Work Development at The Public Theater), Music Supervisor Nigel Lilley (Next to Normal at Donmar Warehouse, Caroline, or Change on Broadway), Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director of Goodspeed Musicals and David Greig, Artistic Director of Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.

The programme also includes networking opportunities and workshop sessions, in-person and digital, with industry professionals including writers, composers, producers, directors, and other theatre practitioners – such as Tony® Award-winning director John Doyle, Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning producer Mara Isaacs, Tony® Award-winning producer Rashad V. Chambers, and more.

Applications to take part in this residency are being accepted from UK-based teams of up to three collaborators who have a musical theatre idea in need of development and would benefit from the residency experience to take it to the next stage in its creation.

To apply, individuals or teams must be based in the UK – Cove Park and Dundee Rep are particularly interested in receiving applications from teams based in Scotland. The participating artists from India and the United States will be selected separately through nominations via international partners.

Please visit https://www.musicaltheatrewritingresidency.uk/ for more information and how to apply.

Dundee Rep Theatre’s No Love Songs set to take Edinburgh Fringe by storm as part of Made in Scotland

Dundee Rep Theatre is delighted to announce that its new production, No Love Songs, is set to receive its World Premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August in a 3-week run at the Traverse Theatre, co-directed by Dundee Rep’s Artistic Director, Andrew Panton, and Associate Director Tashi Gore and presented as part of Made in Scotland.

The creative brainchild of the lead singer of Scottish indie band sensation, The View, Kyle Falconer and his partner Laura Wilde, No Love Songs tells the brave and deeply personal story of love, new parenthood and deals with the subject of post-natal depression. This original, new musical follows Lana and Jessie as they learn to navigate the unique challenges of their new lives as parents.

It is now revealed that Dawn Sievewright (Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, Glasgow Girls) and John McLarnon (My Left Right Foot, Local Hero) will play the characters of Lana and Jessie, joining the fantastic creative team working on this show, including co-writers Johnny McKnight and Laura Wilde, Musical Director and Arranger Gavin Whitworth, Lighting Designer Grant Anderson, Sound Designer Ritchie Young, Set Design Stylist Leila Kalbassi and Costume Design Stylist Cate Mackie.

No Love Songs features hits from Kyle’s 2021 solo album, ‘No Love Songs For Laura’ such as ‘Stress Ball’ and ‘Mother’, reimagined live on stage in this unique and urgent gig theatre show.

This exciting new musical will preview at Dundee Rep this month after a work-in-progress sharing last year as part of Rep Stripped drew raves from audiences. Audiences can book their tickets for the preview performances at Dundee Rep between 13 and 20 May under this link.

The production is presented as part of the prestigious Made in Scotland showcase, a curated showcase of high-quality performance from Scotland at the world’s biggest arts festival – Edinburgh Festival Fringe – made possible by support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund. It is a partnership between Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Federation of Scottish Theatre, Scottish Music Centre and Creative Scotland.

Kyle Falconer and Laura Wilde said: “As avid festival-goers ourselves, we could not be more excited to take No Love Songs to the Fringe, it’s a real ‘pinch-me’ moment for us to be included in the most famous festival in the world – it’s exactly what we hoped for No Love Songs.

“Especially being Scottish, it feels amazing to be able to take it from Dundee to Edinburgh and to give us that platform to reach a worldwide audience. We are really proud of the whole team involved and we cannot wait to open at this year’s festival!”

Dundee Rep is thrilled to also be collaborating with the Traverse Theatre on THE GRAND OLD OPERA HOUSE HOTEL, an exciting new co-production that will be presented on the Traverse stage between 4 and 27 August before transferring to Dundee Rep this autumn (13-16 September).

Featuring a large ensemble, this mainstage production is the crown jewel in Traverse’s 60th year, brought to the festival audiences by the team responsible for hits such as Pride and Prejudice* Sort Of and Kidnapped.

Andrew Panton, Artistic Director, Dundee Rep, said: “We’re very excited to be partnering with the Traverse on two new shows for Travfest ‘23.

“Both use music and song to tell stories in new and innovative ways, dealing with important and urgent themes. I’m delighted that we’re collaborating with and showcasing the work of these extraordinarily talented artists at the Edinburgh Fringe this year.”