Issue 2025 capitaltheatres.com/kings-future
Hidden bottle in King’s crown goes global
We are immensely proud that in February, Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre made headlines not only in the UK but across the world.
The remarkable discovery of a 119-year-old message in a bottle featured on Capital Theatres' website and the front page of the BBC’s website. The story was then picked up in Spain, France, Canada, the USA, Pakistan and India! We are grateful to King’s supporter, Mike Hume, who found the bottle when looking more closely at the theatre’s decorative plasterwork.
The names found on the paper inside the bottle has allowed us to connect to 9 of the descendants of the craftsmen who worked on the King’s originally, some of whom now live in England, Australia and America. We will be sharing their stories in the People’s Archive.
To read about the discovery or news on the King’s, please visit the King’s Stories page on our website by clicking here.
Capital Theatres
Mike Hume
100 feet above the ground a very special painting is revitalised
John Byrne’s iconic dome painting, All The World’s A Stage, is in safe hands. Conservators have undertaken careful restoration work to ensure this stunning piece of public art is preserved for generations to come.
The late John Byrne created the magnificent 78.5-square-metre mural in 2012, working alongside a small team that included his daughter, Celie Byrne. Spanning the auditorium dome, the piece was completed over six weeks before its grand unveiling in 2013.
In September 2024, Celie joined the first conservation inspection, sharing her experience of working on the mural with her father. Reflecting on the project, she describes it as “a privilege to be one of the small team of 'apprentices' to the 'master' that is John Byrne”, recalling the time together as “something I will always treasure.”
Anneleen Lindsay
Anneleen Lindsay
With the King’s closed for redevelopment, the opportunity arose for specialist wall painting conservators to carefully restore the artwork, working from a platform 100 feet above the theatre floor. Japanese tissue paper was applied to stabilise any areas of flaking paint before the delicate process of reattachment began. Karen Dundas, from Scottish Wall Paintings Conservators, describes the work as “extremely challenging, but worth the struggle to save this vibrant painting.”
When the King’s Theatre reopens in spring 2026, audiences will once again be able to look up and enjoy Byrne’s breathtaking mural, restored to its full splendour.
This vital conservation work has been made possible thanks to the generous support of The Pilgrim Trust and The Idlewild Trust.
Anneleen Lindsay
John Robb
John Robb
Tollcross pupils add their ray of sunshine
Throughout February, Primary 6 & 7 pupils from Tollcross took part in a series of activities themed around ‘Heritage through Musical Theatre’ which focused on teaching pupils about features specific to musical theatre. Using examples from one of the final productions at the Sunshine on Leith’, pupils were inspired to create their own flyer for an imagined musical - based on their favourite musicians - for the King’s Theatre’s 2035 programme. Who knows? We might be seeing I’m Feeling Blue: The Billie Eilish Musical on
Taking part allowed pupils to learn about why we are redeveloping the King’s Theatre and find out where the Tollcross Primary School time capsule is buried. They also learned about the discovery of the ‘message in a bottle’. Pupils in Primary 6 and 7 remember the King’s Theatre as a joyful place they visited early in their primary school years, and it is evident how emotionally connected they still feel to the theatre.
When shown a photo of the auditorium before work began, a P7 child exclaimed, "It's so beautiful, why would you change it?!" and was relieved to hear that the auditorium will retain its original ornate features.
Progress on site
For anyone who regularly passes the King’s Theatre, you will be as delighted as we are to see that the scaffolding in Tarvit Street, which gave access to the new flytower roof, has now come down. Back of house improvements to the dressing rooms and company facilities are well and truly under way. Partitions in the basement have been installed where the theatre will host an accessible changing room, toilet and shower facilities, reached using a new platform lift. These much-needed upgrades have been guided by our Access Panel and will allow us to welcome all performers and musicians comfortably and safely.
Improving wayfinding and access throughout the venue is a key objective of the redevelopment. The lift shafts and lift entrances/exits have now been built out, ready for the lifts to be installed over the coming months. The wall of the King’s that runs along Tarvit Street boasts a new 12m tall slot window to provide an open view in and out of the building and natural light as people make their way up to the Dress Circle, Upper Circle and new Creative Engagement suite.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the building, significant basement excavation work has been completed to make space for the kitchen which will serve the new on-street cafe at Stage Lane (between the King’s and Bennets Bar).
It is exciting to witness the King’s transformation, which you are so kindly supporting, and we remain immensely grateful to you. We are always happy to give more details about the project, so please get in touch if you have any questions.
Robertson Construction
Robertson Construction
John Robb