{"id":1897,"date":"2025-10-27T21:42:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T21:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/?p=1897"},"modified":"2025-10-27T21:46:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T21:46:47","slug":"robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past","title":{"rendered":"Robert Marshall \u2013 The Famed Playwright with a Military Past"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Scotland is distinguished by its unique approach to art. It seems there is a special regard for anything that holds deep meaning and, of course, possesses cultural value. To see this, one need only attend a single local festival dedicated to the creative arts. Even if it primarily features modern culture without a mention of the classics, you will undoubtedly notice how subtly and precisely every detail is observed, and how meticulously the programme has been curated. More at <a href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/uk\/\">edinburgh-trend<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to promoting creativity, Edinburgh is undeniably Scotland&#8217;s leader. Its status as the capital certainly plays a part, but the city itself is also notable for its aspiration towards the beautiful. The very fact that so many talented figures were born there goes a long way to explain Edinburgh&#8217;s cultural charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1adcae69adb\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1adcae69adb\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#Edinburgh_as_a_Space_for_Promoting_Drama\" >Edinburgh as a Space for Promoting Drama<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#Early_Years_and_a_Sudden_Decision\" >Early Years and a Sudden Decision<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#First_Work\" >First Work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#Next_Creative_Achievement\" >Next Creative Achievement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#The_Unstaged_Play\" >The Unstaged Play<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#Censorship_as_an_Obstacle_to_Production\" >Censorship as an Obstacle to Production<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#Choosing_Dramaturgy\" >Choosing Dramaturgy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1897-robert-marshall-the-famed-playwright-with-a-military-past\/#Gaining_Fame\" >Gaining Fame<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Edinburgh_as_a_Space_for_Promoting_Drama\"><\/span>Edinburgh as a Space for Promoting Drama<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The theatrical sphere is highly developed in the Scottish capital. Classical works blend wonderfully with modern productions in the repertoires of many <a href=\"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/eternal-1705-leith-theatre-the-history-of-the-cultural-monument-of-the-scottish-capital\">theatres<\/a>. Furthermore, there is a concerted effort to pay attention to every genre and style. Whether it&#8217;s a musical or a straight dramatic play, nothing stands still; everything receives a new, fresher interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, as is well known, every production must first be created. And that is impossible without the direct involvement of an author \u2013 in other words, a playwright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, Edinburgh is rich in such people. Thanks to them, unique works have appeared and continue to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of these figures is Captain Robert Marshall. He was a renowned Scottish playwright. What is remarkable is that he wrote his plays while on active military service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_Years_and_a_Sudden_Decision\"><\/span>Early Years and a Sudden Decision<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Robert was born in 1863, the son of an Edinburgh Justice of the Peace. It was his father who sent him to school in St Andrews, and after that, to the University of Edinburgh. There, the young man studied Latin, Greek, and English literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, a tragedy occurred during his studies \u2013 Robert&#8217;s father passed away. This event cut the young man&#8217;s education short. For a time, he had to assist and study under his uncle, who was a lawyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Marshall quickly grew bored of jurisprudence and decided to enlist in The 71st Highland Light Infantry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_Work\"><\/span>First Work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When his three years of service were behind him, Robert was commissioned as a lieutenant in The Duke of Wellington&#8217;s Regiment (West Riding).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was during guard duty on Agar&#8217;s Island that he began to enjoy spending his free time writing plays. His first work was The Subaltern. It was subsequently staged by The Amateur Dramatic Club of Bermuda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Next_Creative_Achievement\"><\/span>Next Creative Achievement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, when the Regiment moved to Canada, Robert wrote a three-act play titled Strategy. It was later staged in Halifax by a first-class New York company. Marshall&#8217;s next work was the burlesque Guy Fawkes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Unstaged_Play\"><\/span>The Unstaged Play<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Robert was an integral part of the Regiment, he had to follow it to new locations and continue his service. But his passion for art did not wane. Regardless of the change in location, the man continued to successfully create new works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, when his military formation moved to Barbados, he wrote an interesting play dedicated to the Jacobite rising of 1745-1746. The work was simply titled 1746. But, unfortunately, it was never staged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Censorship_as_an_Obstacle_to_Production\"><\/span>Censorship as an Obstacle to Production<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>1893 was marked by Robert&#8217;s deployment to The Cape Colony, serving as an adjutant to Sir William Gordon Cameron. Marshall remained in this post for over a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-12.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-12.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-12-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-12-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-12-696x464.jpeg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>During his time at The Castle of Good Hope, he wrote the play The Great Day. Sir George Alexander was set to produce it, but for some reason, the work did not pass the censor and was therefore never shown on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_Dramaturgy\"><\/span>Choosing Dramaturgy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next stage of Marshall&#8217;s professional military career was his deployment to the Colony of Natal. There, he took up the post of adjutant to Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But when his first serious play, His Excellency the Governor, achieved great success, Robert decided to resign. He dedicated himself fully to playwriting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gaining_Fame\"><\/span>Gaining Fame<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Two more great successes awaited him \u2013 The Second in Command and The Duke of Killiecrankie. This last play helped Marshall save one of London&#8217;s most famous theatre managers from certain financial ruin. But that is another story entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-13.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-13.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-13-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-13-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburgh-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/10\/image-13-696x1044.jpeg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As for Robert Marshall himself, this must be said: after resigning, he was able to fulfil his dream of becoming a popular playwright. His works brought him fame and were, of course, highly praised by critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He lived a very short life \u2013 only 47 years. Yet, in that time, he managed to combine two very different things: creativity and military service. In the end, he chose the one to which his heart truly belonged.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scotland is distinguished by its unique approach to art. It seems there is a special regard for anything that holds deep meaning and, of course, possesses cultural value. To see this, one need only attend a single local festival dedicated to the creative arts. Even if it primarily features modern culture without a mention of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":406,"featured_media":1886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[],"motype":[160],"moformat":[246],"moimportance":[32,35],"class_list":{"0":"post-1897","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-teatrs","8":"motype-eternal","9":"moformat-c-l","10":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","11":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/406"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1897"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1898,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1897\/revisions\/1898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1897"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=1897"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=1897"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburgh-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=1897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}