13 February, Edinburgh: A piece of Edinburgh’s theatrical heritage is in safe hands, as Capital Theatres embarks upon expert conservation work to protect and restore John Byrne’s iconic dome design as part of the King’s Theatre redevelopment project.

The late John Byrne played an important role in the history of the King’s Theatre through his All The World’s A Stage mural painted on the dome inside the auditorium. John and his team, which included his daughter Celie, worked on the 78.5 square metre painting over a six-week period. The new design was unveiled on 6 August 2013 and was admired by thousands of theatregoers until the King’s Theatre closed for major redevelopment in August 2022.

Now, 12 years on after completion, a team of specialist wall painting conservators are carrying out painstaking restoration work on the dome. Operating from a platform 100 feet above the ground floor of the theatre, the conservation team has already applied Japanese tissue paper to patches of flaking paint as a temporary measure. Next, the conservators will begin the delicate process of reattaching the areas of flaked paint in order to restore this magnificent piece of public art to its full glory.

Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, said:

 “The King’s Theatre redevelopment is as much about celebrating and preserving the theatre’s rich history, as it is about creating a modern, accessible venue for generations to come. It has been such a joy to work with Scottish Wall Paintings Conservators to ensure that John Byrne’s glorious dome painting is looking its very best when the curtain rises in the King’s once more.” 

Karen Dundas, from Scottish Wall Paintings Conservators, said:

“It’s a pleasure to be working on John Byrne’s mural in the King’s Theatre dome. I’m sure the coming weeks will try our patience, as we carefully re-adhere each vulnerable flake back onto the ceiling plaster. It’s going to be extremely challenging, but worth the struggle to save this vibrant painting.”

John Byrne’s daughter Celie joined us for the first dome conservation inspection in September 2024, offering her experience of working on this very special project with her father, and witnessing first-hand the dedication and expertise of the conservators at work.

Celie Byrne said:

“It was a privilege to be one of the small team of ‘apprentices’ to the ‘master’ that is John Byrne back in 2013. This was my first foray into large scale mural art and loved every moment on site, up high on what seemed like our own island out at sea. I will always treasure that special time with my daddy.”

The conservation of the John Byrne mural has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Pilgrim Trust and The Idlewild Trust.

The redevelopment of the King’s Theatre represents a major investment in Edinburgh’s cultural future. Once complete, the theatre will open as a cherished home for a more diverse range of performances from companies across the UK and beyond. It will feature enhanced accessibility for artists and audience members alike, along with state-of-the-art public facilities including a new creative engagement studio, a changing places toilet, and a café to support its role as a vibrant community hub.

Audiences will once again be able to look up and enjoy John’s magnificent All The World’s A Stage dome painting when the building reopens in spring 2026.

For more information about the King’s Theatre project and to support Capital Theatres’ ongoing fundraising efforts, please visit www.capitaltheatres.com/kings-future.