Cameo roles played by the ensemble - Kirsty Findlay, Lorraine Graham , Graham Mackay-Bruce, David Mara, Declan Spaine. Gavin Jon Wright
‘You’ve got yourself in a bit of a pickle, Fred. – Idiot!”
This sardonic remark by the moral philosopher, Adam Smith is addressed to the CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland as he faces the global financial crash of 2008 and his own disastrous downfall from grace.
This is a dynamic and damning portrait of Mr. Fred Goodwin (no longer Sir, having lost his knighthood), who put his unwavering faith in his Bible, ‘The Wealth of Nations’ without due diligence, in his pursuit of power and success.
This fictionalised satire covers the decade beforehand starting in 1998 when Fred Goodwin is headhunted by CEO, Sir George Matthewson to join the RBS. Mistakenly addressed as Mr Good when he arrives for a meeting, he reveals that instead of ‘Good’ he prefers the ‘Win’ part of his name. Win by name, win by nature. Founded in 1727, the RBS had a proud 300 year old history, its foundations imbedded in the Georgian, neo-classical structure of Edinburgh’s polite, privileged New Town society. Mathewson was keen, with Goodwin as his deputy, to make it a major player rather than a national bank. A tense scene illustrates the shareholders meeting when RBS succeeds in a £23.6 billion takeover of NatWest, a bank three times its size.
Soon Goodwin steps into the shiny shoes of CEO - he had already been nicknamed ‘Fred the Shred’ at the Clydesdale bank due to endless staff cuts. Tall and slim in RBS corporate tie and blue suit, Sandy Grierson portrays a bespectacled, quiet, unassuming man but his appearance defies his hidden strategy of ambitious, aggressive expansion. Due to a gentleman’s agreement, competition was disallowed between RBS and Bank of Scotland, but as an outsider from Paisley, Fred’s curt response is ‘May the best bank win’.
The impressive set features amphitheatre steps and a towering series of grey, granite Grecian columns to reflect Edinburgh’s ancient cityscape and modern business world of the 21st century. An ensemble cast play Goodwin’s colleagues, share-holders and also key political figures of the period including Gordon Brown whose dour demeanour is succinctly captured by Andy Clark. With Brown as PM and Alistair Darling as Exchequer, the Scots are in charge at Westminster and of the financial powerhouse of RBS, the world’s largest bank.
A musical soundtrack throughout illustrates the noughties era, such as Adele, Franz Ferdinand, Kings of Leon, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Keane and the Killers - 'Read my Mind.'
The good old days, the honest man
The restless heart, the Promised Land.
Fred’s personal mantra is "Make it Happen" which is adopted as the Bank’s slogan. There’s also a Work Hard, Play Hard philosophy, office affairs, drinking, dining at Contini’s and karaoke parties at Fingers Bar.
Above his desk, Goodwin proudly displays a 1st edition of ‘A Wealth of Nations’ (1776) by Adam Smith as well an illuminated globe. His focus is on the meticulous design and art gallery of the new RBS headquarters at Gogarburn, with his own private jet, building a corporate Empire - his own Trump-like Tower.
His loyal team of accountants and financial experts swarm around like a Greek chorus of Furies, a flurry of mythological spirits as the voice of justice. But any cautionary advice is dismissed along with any employee who fails in their duty to carry out a command.
As a clever, quirky theatrical device, the ghost of Adam Smith appears as the intellectual, moral conscience of the Enlightenment. In a few brief but brilliant comedic vignettes, Brian Cox, in a white powdered, permed wig and silk cravat appears in a puff of smoke on a time travel trip from 18th to 21st century. Oozing a charismatic, camp personality, Smith experiences the pleasures of John Lewis, delighting in hand cream and scented candles. Goodwin welcomes his chance to meet his hero to discuss political economy and capitalism, but the eminent philosopher is appalled that the CEO has not studied his treatise on ‘Moral Sentiment’ which stresses compassion and charity in society.
James Graham's sparkling script is peppered with sharp humour and wit to lighten the mood of these true life political events; theatrically and visually, the production is slickly performed and directed through fast paced scenes. However, the blaring blast of numerous pop songs adds little to the drama and a curious pageant by a group of Amateur actors, (with a gruff, grumpy Brian Cox as himself), spoils the spiritual presence of Adam Smith in Act 2.
In the Athens of the North when the financial crisis finally hits it seems as if the volcanic Castle Rock has erupted once again, sending shock waves across Edinburgh, Banks, businesses and Stock markets worldwide.
The thrilling, chilling story of Fred Goodwin’s blinkered vision to ‘make it happen’, with a narcissistic sense of pride, greed and arrogance, is indeed a modern Greek Tragedy.
Showtimes:
30 July to 9 August 2025
Evenings at 7.30pm matinees at 2.30pm
Ticket prices from £10
https://www.eif.co.uk/events/make-it-happen