Wigs and Make-up Manager

Our Technical, Production and Costume Department plays a leading part in ensuring our performances are of the highest quality by delivering technical excellence for every performance, rehearsal, and event.

The role: 

In this role you will work collaboratively with your fellow managers to ensure the team deliver both new and revival productions to the highest possible standard of safety, efficiency, and quality, whilst upholding the highest principles of presentation and courtesy. The Wigs and Make-Up department is currently made up of c. 20 permanent technicians and senior technicians, alongside an excellent pool of casual and freelance staff.

What you’ll bring:

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced candidate who can bring a strong team leadership ethic to the role. You will be confident leading by example, with a passion for building a diverse and inclusive workplace. You will have strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset and an eye for high quality output. 

You will also be able to demonstrate: 

• HND or degree in Wigs and Make-up for the Performing Arts preferred, City and Guilds Hairdressing Diploma and Make-up course or equivalent
• Excellent professional experience in hair and make-up techniques for the theatre
• Extensive knowledge of the latest techniques, materials and products used for wig making, make-up looks, prosthetics and effects as well as historical period wig making and setting, hair qualities and suppliers
• A good track record in demonstrating quality and flair in interpreting the designer’s brief
• Proven experience of managing teams and projects with consistent high production standards, including effective resource and budget management.

The Royal Ballet and Opera is one of the UK’s leading arts organisations and our aim is to inspire imagination, ignite emotion and make the extraordinary for everyone. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion underpin all that we do. We want our people to be representative of the diversity in the UK. We understand the creativity and innovation that diversity can bring and strive to create an inclusive environment in which everyone can thrive.

We encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and skills to join our teams. We particularly welcome applications from those who are from a global majority background and/or those who are disabled, as they are under-represented within our organisation.

We are a Disability Confident Employer, which means that we are actively working to ensure that candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions feel supported, engaged and able to fulfil their potential in the workplace. We will endeavour to offer an interview to candidates who tell us they wish to participate in the scheme and who demonstrate in their application that they meet the essential criteria for the role, though sometimes due to the volume of qualified candidates with declarations this is not possible.

The RBO is also committed to safeguarding and protecting all children, young people, and adults and we implement robust safer recruitment practices. Due to our safeguarding promise, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check before commencing employment with us, which will be indicated in the advertising.