Vital conservation work safeguards future of iconic John Byrne mural

Last November, we awarded Capital Theatres charity a grant of £25,000 for vital conservation work of the John Byrne mural, located on the ceiling dome of the King’s Theatre auditorium

The King’s Theatre opened in 1906. It is a Grade A listed building located in the heart of Tollcross in the southwest area of Edinburgh. Managed by the Capital Theatres charity, King’s Theatre is now closed for refurbishment and set to reopen in 2026. In 2013, the charity commissioned John Byrne (1940-2023), one of Scotland’s most ‘inventive and versatile modern artists’, to design a mural for the dome of the Theatre. The vivid, colourful design is rich in theatrical motifs, playing on the theme of duality, and features the opening lines from Jaques’ famous monologue in ‘As You Like it’ “All the world’s a stage”. It is the largest surviving mural (78.5 sq/m) by Byrne.

An inspection and survey, carried out last year, revealed that conservation work was urgently needed to safeguard the mural. Damp ingress had caused extensive paint deterioration, including cracks and paint detachment. The paint layers were displaying localised but widespread delamination across the dome, with some areas of cracking and lifting paint. The mural was extremely vulnerable and urgent stabilisation work was crucial to prevent further damage to the iconic painting.

Image credit: Anneleen Lindsay Photography / Capital Theatres Trust

Our grant supported Phase 2 of the conservation work, following urgent stabilisation in September 2024. Completed over a six-week period the specialist conservation team has successfully restored the iconic John Byrne mural to its original condition. Access is not easy, as the mural stands at 100 feet above the ground. Karen Dundas, from Scottish Wall Paintings Conservators, described 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; conserved and protected for future generations to enjoy.

Find out more about our Preservation and Conservation grant programme.

Feature image credit: Anneleen Lindsay Photography / Capital Theatres Trust