In December 2024, a glass bottle was discovered at the King’s Theatre during the ongoing redevelopment project, by theatre photographer and historian Mike Hume. At last, the contents of the 119-year-old hidden message, that had been hidden inside the plaster crown at the centre of the King’s Theatre proscenium arch right above the stage. have been revealed.
Upon its discovery, Mike Hume and the Capital Theatres team identified that the piece of paper inside the bottle was dated to 1906, the same year the King’s Theatre opened, so to preserve the fragile document, expert conservators were required to safely remove its contents.
Scottish Conservation Studio removed the plaster seal and bottle top but could not remove the scroll of paper without the possibility of its being damaged. In February 2025, the base of the bottle was carefully removed by Laura Clair, a Glass Technician from the Edinburgh College of Art, to safely access its content.
Dated to October 1906, just two months before the King’s opened its doors to the public, the bottle contained a list of contractor names. It gives details of the architects, draftsman plasterers and journeymen apprentices who worked on the construction of the theatre.
As the only surviving operational theatre by Kirkcaldy based architects Swanston and Davidson, their names appear first on the list and the Swanston Family have donated some of their grandfather’s artefacts to The People’s Archive. These include tools used by John D. Swanston, and a catalogue of images of the plaster moulds that feature in the King’s rich interior. A postcard featuring a photograph of John Swanston in uniform during the First World War as captain of the Black Watch has also been donated to the King’s Theatre archive by his family. Other names on the note include father and son team plasterer George King Senior and apprentice plasterer George King Junior.
The hidden glass bottle, the note inside and Swanston’s postcard will be included in The People’s Archive – a comprehensive digital platform offering access to programmes, photographs, playbills, press articles and oral histories all about this much-loved Edwardian theatre. With over 2,700 items, this searchable catalogue, launching in April 2025, will enable users to immerse themselves in the history of the King’s Theatre through diverse research projects, ranging from genealogy articles to model boxes and costume design.
Heritage Engagement Manager at Capital Theatres, Abby Pendlebury said “We knew we had something really special when the bottle was uncovered. For 119 years, the bottle was waiting behind the crown – something that every audience member has seen since the theatre first opened in 1906. The significance of the message is that the list of names ranges from managers and directors to draughtsman, architects, and plasterers – people working on the site who were so proud of what they had built. There is pride and ownership in this note. Now we have the histories of those who made ‘the people’s theatre,’ which we will proudly share as part of the King’s origin story in The People’s Archive and through new displays at the theatre when it reopens.”
Supported by Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland, The People’s Archive is part of Capital Theatres’ ongoing commitment to preserve and promote Edinburgh’s theatre heritage for future generations.
For more information about the King’s Theatre project and to support The King’s Future fundraising campaign, please visit www.capitaltheatres.com/kings-future.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 