Major Play IV: Rob Roy

Walter Scott had an enduring interest in the theatre and adaptations of his work were to become foundational to the development of drama in Scotland. Above all it was Isaac Pocock’s adaptation of the 1817 novel Rob Roy, described as standing without rival on the Scottish stage, that shaped this legacy. First staged in London within months of the publication of the novel it was an immediate success, and became a standard feature of the Scottish repertoire, appealing to audiences in London, in Edinburgh and across Scotland, and among the diasporic community. Its significance was cemented when it was performed at the Theatre Royal in 1822 during the visit of George IV to Edinburgh. The ‘royal play’ as it came to be known provided a model of Scottish identity that could be consumed both at home and abroad. This chapter examines its popularity, the reasons for its success, and its legacy for how Scotland is perceived. It also considers its role in the development of Scottish theatre more generally, and its implications for understanding of Walter Scott.