Head of Wardrobe

LLOYD'S REGISTER INTERNATIONAL; Leeds; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Ballet invites applications for the senior role of Head of Wardrobe, overseeing wardrobe, costume-making, wigs, hair and make-up across the company's repertoire. The position drives the artistic vision while ensuring budgetary control, efficiency and safe working practices, in close partnership with the Technical Director and Designers.

Key duties include evaluating designs for practicality and cost, delivering cost estimates for new productions and revivals, and guiding resources

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading wardrobe and costume departments in theatre or dance.
• Ability to manage budgets, schedules and resource planning.
• Strong collaboration with designers, technical staff and production teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all wardrobe, costume-making, wigs, hair and make-up activities.
• Ensure artistic vision is realised to the highest standards while maintaining budgetary control and safety.
• Collaborate with the Technical Director and creative teams from concept to performance.
• Assess viability of designs and prepare accurate cost estimates for new productions and revivals.

Skills

Wardrobe leadership

Costume making

Wigs & hair

Make-up supervision

Job description

A rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced wardrobe, costume and production leader to join Northern Ballet in a pivotal senior role.

The Head of Wardrobe is responsible for the strategic leadership, management and delivery of all wardrobe, costume-making, wigs, hair and make-up activities across Northern Ballet's repertoire, both new and existing productions.

The role ensures that the artistic vision of each production is realised to the highest standards whilst maintaining effective budgetary control, operational efficiency and safe working practices. Working closely with the Technical Director, Designers and Creative Teams, the Head of Wardrobe leads the evaluation, planning and delivery of costume and wardrobe requirements from concept through to performance.

A key responsibility of the role is assessing the practical and financial viability of costume, wigs, hair and make-up designs, preparing accurate cost estimates for new productions and revivals, and advising the Technical Director on budget implications and resource requirements.

• Salary: £41,700 per annum plus touring allowance
• Full time
• Closing date: 18 September 2026
• Interviews will take place: week commencing 5 October 2026

Job Description

About Northern Ballet

Northern Ballet is the UK's foremost narrative ballet company.

We tell unexpected stories that move our audiences across the country and online. We aim to reach as many different people and places as possible with our passionate storytelling, mastery of classical dance technique and live music.

We believe in the power to change lives through dance and are committed to engaging with people from all different sectors of the community. We have an absolute commitment to our leading role as an international ambassador for world-class dance, often showcasing our exceptional home-grown artistry on the world-stage.

Header image from Gentleman Jack, photo Emily Nuttall.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Northern Ballet strives to understand, respect and champion diversity in all its forms. We believe in embracing diversity within our workforce, repertoire and practices and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Please contact us to talk through any access requirements you may need at any stage of the recruitment process so that we can ensure reasonable adjustments are in place. Adjustments could include providing documentation in alternative formats (large print, braille, or audio), adapting the interview environment, or allowing additional time for responses.

The interviews are due to take place week commencing 5 October 2026.