Download Job Description Job Title: Head of Wardrobe (People, Places

Job Description
Job Title:
Responsible To:
Head of Wardrobe
(People, Places &Things – Wyndham’s Theatre)
Company Stage Manager & General Manager
National Theatre
Upper Ground, South Bank
London SE1 9PX
Tel +44(0)20 7452 3333
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
[email protected]
Responsible For: Line Manager for Wardrobe Deputy
The National Theatre
The National Theatre is dedicated to making the very best theatre and sharing it with as
many people as possible.
We stage up to 30 productions at our South Bank home each year, ranging from re-imagined
classics – such as Greek tragedy and Shakespeare – to modern masterpieces and new work
by contemporary writers and theatre-makers. The work we make strives to be as open, as
diverse, as collaborative and as national as possible. Much of that new work is researched
and developed at the NT Studio: we are committed to nurturing innovative work from new
writers, directors, creative artists and performers. Equally, we are committed to education,
with a wide-ranging Learning programme for all ages in our new Clore Learning Centre and in
schools and communities across the UK.
The National's work is also seen on tour throughout the UK and internationally, and in
collaborations and co-productions with regional theatres. Popular shows transfer to the
West End and occasionally to Broadway; and through the National Theatre Live programme,
we broadcast live performances to 2,000 cinemas in 50 countries around the world. From
September 2015, National Theatre: On Demand in Schools will make three acclaimed,
curriculum-linked productions free to stream on demand in every secondary school in the
country. Online, the NT offers a rich variety of innovative digital content on every aspect of
theatre.
We do all we can to keep ticket prices affordable and to reach a wide audience, and use our
public funding to maintain artistic risk-taking, accessibility and diversity.
NT Productions
As a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Theatre, NTP is responsible for managing and
maintaining to a high level of presentation, work that has a commercial future beyond its life
on the South Bank. Currently, these productions are War Horse, The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night Time and a West End transfer of People, Places & Things in March 2016.
Along with other projects currently in development additionally NTP presents work which
shows the NT’s productions in venues other than the South Bank, with a view to diversifying
the core NT attendees and encouraging a new audience for National Theatre shows.
Following two successful runs at the National Theatre, War Horse transferred to the New
London Theatre in the West End in March 2009, and after 8 record-breaking years in London
will end its run in March 2016. A UK tour will follow, commencing Autumn 2017 and a
Mandarin language production is currently touring in China. The Curious Incident of the Dog
in the Night-Time continues its open-ended run at the Gielgud Theatre and is currently on a
UK and Ireland tour until November 2015.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. To be responsible for the wardrobe maintenance on the production. This will include the
supervision of the Wardrobe Deputy and the Dresser in the maintenance and dressing of
all costumes for the production to the standard of the Designer and the Costume
Supervisor’s specifications.
2. To undertake costume changes during the performance as required.
3. To undertake shopping and buying for the show alongside the Supervisor and Designer,
during tech period and throughout the run.
4. To be an active member of the production team, working to support and assist staff in
other departments where necessary.
5. To manage and schedule the Wardrobe Deputy and Dresser.
6. To clean and launder all costumes in the manner and frequency required to maintain
the appearance of the costumes, including the use of outside dry cleaning if necessary.
7. To carry out all running repairs on costumes as required.
8. To ensure that the wardrobe room and all costumes in dressing rooms are kept in a
clean and tidy manner and that security, COSHH/Health and Safety and good
housekeeping procedures within the running wardrobe are properly carried out.
9. To assist in the recruitment of staff and deputies as required, and to ensure that the
training of staff within the department is carried out as set out in job specifications.
10. To ensure that all the documentation relating to the costumes for the production is
written up in a clear and easily understood manner and kept up to date.
11. To attend technical and dress rehearsals to ensure awareness of all costume
requirements and any resulting changes, and to attend production meetings as
required.
12. To attend understudy fittings and make notes to ensure which costumes will be worn in
the event of understudies' being required to perform.
13. To be responsible for all systems and paperwork in the department including timesheets
for all members of wardrobe, weekly schedules, petty cash and credit card statements.
14. To comply with the National's Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety Policy.
15. To carry out all other duties normally associated with the role of Head of Wardrobe on a
West End production.
Person Specification
 Considerable experience of maintenance wardrobe work.
 Previous experience of working on a West End production in a similar role.
 Flexible and self-motivated with the ability to work well with others and to work calmly
under pressure.
 Some experience of wigs desirable.
 Ability to lead and organise staff.
 Ability to work under minimum supervision and adapt work in accordance with
performance requirements.
 Good communication and organisational skills.
Outline of Terms and Conditions
Contract Type:
w/c 22 February 2016 (start date to be confirmed) to 18 June
2016 (subject to the Producer’s right to give not less than two
weeks’ notice of closure of the production).
Hours:
Contract:
Salary:
This is a buy-out agreement, average of 48 hours
SOLT/BECTU Agreement.
£710 per week, inclusive of all overtime and other incidental
payments. Bank Holidays and holiday entitlement and pay are
in accordance with the SOLT/BECTU contract.
Wyndham’s Theatre
10 Weeks
Location:
Probationary Period:
Other Benefits

Complimentary tickets for performances, subject to
availability and the National’s staff ticket policy

Complimentary tickets for platforms, subject to availability
and policy

Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle-scheme and childcare
vouchers

Staff canteen and bar

Discount on meals in all of the National’s bars and
restaurants

Discount on the books, play texts, DVDs and other items in
the National’s bookshop
Appointment Procedure
Please note that applications can only be considered if they are submitted through the
National’s Online Recruitment System, and returned by the closing date.
To apply for this vacancy please follow the link:
https://apply.nationaltheatre.org.uk/39676RNT
The closing date for the receipt of completed application forms is: 12 noon Tuesday 8
December
For any queries, please contact the HR Department by emailing:
[email protected]
The National Theatre is committed to being an equal opportunities employer
HR Department
2015