The Deputy Head of Wardrobe plays a key role within the Wardrobe Department, supporting the Head of Wardrobe in delivering high-quality costumes for all Wiltshire Creative productions and projects.
This is a hands-on, practical role with a strong emphasis on costume making, alteration, and maintenance. The Deputy assists in all areas of production wardrobe work, supervises casuals and dressers as needed, and ensures smooth day-to-day operation of the department.
The postholder will deputise for the Head of Wardrobe in their absence, taking on management, budgeting, and departmental coordination as required.
Key Responsibilities
Costume Construction & Realisation
- Cut, make, alter and repair costumes to professional standards, following designer specifications
- Assist with fittings, ensuring costumes meet both artistic and practical requirements
- Source, purchase or hire costume elements as directed
- Maintain an excellent standard of costume finish, fit, and presentation
- Provide practical support to freelance makers, ensuring continuity of quality and communication between team members
- Support quick changes and dressing during technical rehearsals and performances when required
Department Support & Deputising
- Support the Head of Wardrobe in planning and delivering all wardrobe activity across productions, co-productions and visiting work
- Supervise casual staff, dressers and volunteers
- Deputise for the Head of Wardrobe in their absence — including leading the team, attending production meetings, and liaising with designers, production staff and stage management
- Assist with maintaining departmental budgets and records, submitting timesheets and purchase orders as required
- Contribute to maintaining and improving systems for costume tracking, laundry schedules, and departmental documentation
Laundry, Maintenance & Stock Management
- Support Laundry when required, ironing, and costume care
- Carry out or coordinate costume repairs, alterations, and replacements throughout a production’s run
- Assist in maintaining wardrobe facilities, laundry equipment
- Support the workspace organisation and contribute to the storage and cataloguing of costume stock, ensuring items are returned, repaired, and stored properly
- Assist with processing costume hires and returns
Health & Safety
- Follow all Health & Safety policies and ensure safe use of machinery, tools, and cleaning products
- Report faults, hazards or maintenance issues to the Head of Wardrobe or Technical Manager promptly
- Contribute to risk assessments and COSHH process when required
General
- To always act in the best interests of Wiltshire Creative
- To take positive action to promote Equal Opportunities in all aspects of the work of Wiltshire Creative
- To agree to abide by Wiltshire Creative’s policies, as set out in the Staff Handbook
- To maintain confidentiality in all areas relating to Wiltshire Creative
- Contribute positively to a collaborative and creative working environment.
- Support sustainability initiatives through environmentally responsible wardrobe practices.
- Work in line with Theatre Green Book standards, supporting Wiltshire Creative’s environmental sustainability goals through responsible sourcing, reuse, and waste reduction.
- To maximise income and minimise expenditure wherever possible
- To be flexible and to undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by Management
About You
Skills
- Strong garment construction, pattern cutting, and alteration skills
- Competence in laundry processes, pressing, and basic fabric care
- Basic knowledge of wig, hair, or make-up maintenance
Experience
- Proven experience in a wardrobe or costume department roles.
- Qualification in Costume, Fashion, or Theatre Production (or equivalent experience).
- Familiarity with budget tracking and simple administrative systems including IT.
- Basic understanding of Health & Safety and risk assessment procedures.
Attributes
- Calm, adaptable and supportive under pressure
- Strong interpersonal skills, empathy and discretion
- A collaborative, self-motivated, organised worker
- A proactive communicator with a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork
- Passionate about costume and theatre production
- Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
- Flexible availability including some evenings and weekends
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .