In 1973, he completed his degree in acting and directing, establishing the academic foundation on which he would build his future career. Yet Marzban did not stop there. Seeking a broader understanding of theatrical design and production methods, he continued his graduate studies abroad.
In 1979, he earned a master’s degree in theater design and direction from Brunel University in London, one of the most dynamic centers for arts and interdisciplinary performance studies in the U.K. This period of exposure to European theater—both classical and avant-garde—greatly enriched his directorial imagination. It familiarized him with scenographic minimalism, psychological realism, naturalistic acting, and evolving approaches to lighting, sound, and movement.
Although the late 1970s were a turbulent period for Iranians abroad, Marzban remained focused on his artistic development. The combination of Iranian dramatic traditions and contemporary European techniques became a defining duality in his later works.
