LaplandUK
Wardrobe Deputy
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Company Overview
Founded in 2007 by Mike and Alison Battle, Lapland began with a simple but powerful purpose: to honour the wonder of childhood at Christmas. Frustrated by the poor quality of festive experiences available for their own four boys, the Battles set out to elevate this moment of childhood and reimagine the Father Christmas myth through original storytelling, meticulous set design, and emotionally resonant live theatre.
Their ground-breaking immersive show opened in 2007 and immediately captured the attention and hearts of parents nationwide. Powered by their purpose, the couple partnered with Hollywood set designers and West End performance professionals to produce an experience of unprecedented quality and detail. With an NPS of 72 (outperforming industry icons in the entertainment space), Lapland’s customer loyalty is second to none and has now welcomed nearly 2 million ‘believers,’ with tickets selling out on release for what the press now terms ‘the Glastonbury of Christmas’.
Today, the Lapland Group is a fast-growing purpose driven entertainment business spanning the three pillars of Live, Product and Studios.
In 2024, Lapland’s eCommerce revenues grew tenfold, driven by the launch of magical at-home products like personalised Letters from Lapland…. (Advent calendar and soon, a Christmas Eve Experience?). These products extend the Lapland world into the home, deepening belief and connection beyond the physical experience. At the same time, our original story universe continues to scale through media. In 2023, Lapland launched its first podcast, Elfcast, which achieved No. 1 in the UK Family Charts and ranked in the global top 10 over Christmas. With plans to expand into audio and content year-round, our IP and characters are reaching audiences in new and emotionally resonant ways.
With immersive Live experiences, high-growth eCommerce, and a rapidly expanding original content, Lapland is on a mission to become the definitive global Christmas brand anchored in belief, storytelling, and the enduring magic of childhood.
Role Overview
The Wardrobe Deputies will be expected to step into the role of Wardrobe Manager in their absence, ensuring continuity of leadership, standards, and daily operational flow across all departments.
In this position, Deputies are responsible for overseeing the full costume operation, including daily staffing, workflow coordination, and maintaining department-wide costume quality. They should be confident in making informed decisions, supporting the wider team, and escalating issues appropriately.
Deputies are also expected to uphold and promote best practice, ensuring that all health and safety procedures, costume protocols, and performance‑ready standards are consistently maintained. Strong communication, proactive problem‑solving, and a calm, professional presence during busy periods are essential.
There are 3 sub departments within wardrobe, with a dedicated team assigned to each for the duration of the run.
Our closest area to an ensemble or crowd, Groups operates as a high‑energy, fast‑paced environment. Each day we dress over 200 elves, allocated to 15 different costume designs, ensuring consistency, quality, and quick turnaround.
The Principals team supports 50 performers each day, dressing them across 28 unique characters. This department requires precise continuity management and a highly organised dressing workflow to meet performance demands.
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Dedicated exclusively to our most iconic role, this department looks after 50 Father Christmas performers throughout the day, maintaining costume standards, grooming requirements, and smooth transitions from arrival to their Hut.
The show runs each day from 8 am to 6 pm, with a new audience starting their journey through the show every half an hour. The Show is comprised of roughly 1.5hrs scripted performance as well as 1.5hrs magical free time in the Elven Village before visiting Father Christmas himself.
The Wardrobe Department Shifts are separated into AM 06:00– 15:00 and PM 14:45 – 23:45. The Show runs 7 days a week, the wardrobe tracks will be 5 days on 2 days off with no promise of weekend days off.
This is an amazing opportunity to be part of a large team, in a fun and fast paced environment.
We are looking for 3 Deputy's, 6 Senior wardrobe Assistants and 14 Wardrobe Assistants per site to help deliver this year's shows and make it the most memorable yet. We are committed to supporting development and nurturing our teams. Our aim is to find team members that will want to return year upon year and be part of our exciting ever-growing department.
Key Responsibilities
- To assist in the set-up and organisation of the department on site.
- In the absence of the Wardrobe Manager, be acting Manager of the team of wardrobe professionals on site.
- To attend training and support the Wardrobe Manager in Delivering training to the Wardrobe Team On- site.
- To support the wardrobe Manager in Delivering training to all Workers who will be wearing costumes on site.
- To develop and share an exceptional knowledge of the costumes and the costume standards.
- To oversee the dressing of performers precisely and compassionately.
- To enforce and maintain the Lapland UK Costume Standards, and to support the Wardrobe Assistants and Senior Wardrobe Assistants in doing the same.
- To maintain and develop existing systems used for the smooth running of every shift/ show. Including implementing systems to ensure costumes are laundered,cleaned,and refreshed between shows.
- To oversee the identification and execution of necessary maintenance in a timely and proactive manner to keep all costumes in good condition during the show dates. Making sure to keep a detailed log,in online live documents,of any repairs and notify the Manager of any concerns.
- To update and communicate online cast lists to assistants to set up the costumes for each day of shows.
- To work closely alongside the Manager to ensure full support to cast including costume distribution, dressing, changes, returns and cleaning and keeping the relative documents up to date.
- To oversee the handovers of Wardrobe Assistants between shifts to ensure online logbooks and communication are effective. To complete the Handover of shift to the arriving supervisor effectively.
- To provide support and guidance to the Senior Wardrobe Assistants and Wardrobe Assistants.
- To support the Wardrobe Manager in the day-to-day running of the department, including rotas and scheduling as well as team supervision and training.
- To respond quickly and efficiently to any on-set Wardrobe Calls.
- Cooperate and create relationships with Management from other departments on site.
- Champion a Safe and approachable Wardrobe department.
- Monitor and Update the Wardrobe Rota throughout the season.
- Manage the Break efficiently, ensuring an accurate inventory is provided to the Costume Team.
- Manage the Wardrobe App to keep track of stock.
- Manage the Stock of Consumables on Site.
- Maintain the Infrastructure On-Site.
- To create a supportive and positive Wardrobe environment with the cast and team.
- To represent the company and comply with company policies.
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Role Requirements
- Excellent Organisation
- Leadership Skills
- Excellent Problem Solving
- Excellent Teamwork and Communication
- Passion for the role and the company
- Proven experience in hand sewing and machine sewing across a wide range of materials
- Excellent Knowledge base of different materials.
- An ability to remain calm under pressure
- Proven experience in live theatre
- Good Knowledge of Costume maintenance techniques
- Good Knowledge of Laundering Costumes
- Proven experience of managing a team of at least2-3 assistants
- Managing rotas
- Good Knowledge of Excel and Google Drive
Location
London: Swinley Forest, Ascot.
Key Dates
London:
- Start Date: 17th October 2026
- Training Day: 21st October 2026
- Preview Day: 5th November 2026
- Opening Day: 7th November 2026
- End Date: 24th December 2026
- With the potential to extend the contract into January to aid with De-rig where necessary.
Reports to
Live Site Wardrobe Manager.
Life at LaplandUK
At LaplandUK, we believe in the magic of collaboration, a steadfast commitment to excellence, and a team that's always willing to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Working with us means being part of a dynamic environment where collaboration brings out the best in everyone, diverse talents converge, and innovation thrives.
- Passion for the Mission. We are in service to belief. We understand the importance of what we do and its legacy.
- One Company We only succeed together. We are a positive and caring group of people who embrace developing Lapland and ourselves.
- Driven to Deliver Excellence Belief is in the detail. Powered by our purpose we challenge and innovate to exceed expectations in everything we do.
Salary
- £19.00 per hour; plus £50 per working day subsidy or accommodation provided
- Your choice of contract basis - we can contract as PAYE or Self-Employed.
Benefits
- One on site meal per working shift
- Lapland Shuttle bus from local train station to get to site (both sites)
- On-site parking for staff (Manchester)
- Holiday paid in full at end of the contract calculated at 12.07% of total hours worked
- £50 Subsidy per working day to help with travel costs or Accommodation.
Application Requirements
Applicants must be authorised to work in the United Kingdom without the need for visa sponsorship.
Lapland reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any time. Due to the high number of applications being received, we may not be able to respond to every applicant.
Lapland is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
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