PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to accept applications via this application page. To apply, please follow this link: https://creativealliance.org.uk/opportunities/wigs-hair-and-makeup-apprentice/

What is a Wigs, Hair and Make-up Artist?

A theatre wigs, hair and makeup artist is someone who is based at a theatre and works on the shows, providing a service to create a character following a design brief.

Purpose of the Role

The Wigs, Hair and Make-up Department at the National Theatre makes and applies all wigs, facial hair, special effects Makeup and blood effects used at the NT. They also undertake all barbering and hair processing requirements during the run of shows. They are thus closely involved with directors and designers, supporting them and realising their design concepts.
They also work closely with actors during the production period and throughout the run of the show. Working as part of the NT’s WHAM Department you will learn about and understand the role this department plays within a theatre and can develop high quality, specialist skills in a realistic professional environment. You will be working to realise the design concepts of directors and designers and will learn hairdressing, barbering, wig making, prosthetics, on-stage effects and cosmetic make-up skills.
You will also learn about the vital role collaboration and communication play in the creative design process and how to work closely with people in a time pressured and dynamic environment. This apprenticeship is for those with a passion for theatre, who haven’t yet had experience of working in professional theatre. It is designed to provide you with the skills necessary to work as a wigs and make-up technician in the wider creative and cultural sector, and although it is possible that future opportunities for work may arise, it is not intended that this apprenticeship will lead to a permanent position with the NT.

Duties and Responsibilities

At the NT you will:

Apply the skill you learn during training and put them to use to be able to work alongside the team, backstage and on shows.
Attend dress rehearsals of shows that you we are working on.
Work to agreed deadlines, consulting always with Head of Department or Workshop Coordinator.
Maintain high standards of operations and good housekeeping in the workshop and backstage.
Participate in the provision of a safe working environment, always acting within the company’s Health & Safety policy.
Participate in other training as necessary and appropriate, including visiting other workplaces on placement when available.
Carry out any other reasonable duties as requested by the Head of Department, Workshop Coordinator or a supervisor
You will be supported at the NT by a dedicated mentor.

At all times you will be expected to:

Take responsibility for being on time and always working safely and considerately.
Take responsibility for completing your college work and making sure your manager knows when a college assessor is visiting.
Behave professionally, including keeping workspaces neat and tidy.
You will sometimes be asked to work evenings and weekends, and will be given time off in the week to make up for it (this is called Time Off in Lieu)

By the end of the apprenticeship, you will have a working knowledge of:

Haircutting and colouring.
Hair setting and dressing
Wig setting and dressing
Learning the correct method of artists own hair preparation under a wig, depending on hair texture and length
To apply a wig on an artist using the correct pin type and areas to be pinned
Making wigs, foundations and measurements
Making wigs, knotting
Making facial hair
Making weft and hairpieces
Creating blood effects
Creating and applying prosthetics
Makeup, straight (natural makeup)
Make up, special effects (bald caps, prosthetics etc.)
Show management (quick changes, under wig hair prep.
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Download the Job Description here.

Requirements:

Person Specification

Has demonstrable evidence of interest in wigs, hair and makeup such as through an introductory course or some entry-level employment e.g hair salon assistant.
Shows that they enjoy making things.
Can follow written spoken and visual instructions.
Willing to undertake the qualification as outlined.
Has Maths and English GSCE at Grade 4/C, or equivalent.
Can work well within a team and communicate clearly.
Can work effectively under supervision and be self-motivated to work on your own initiative.
Has a helpful, positive and flexible approach and attitude, whether the work is routine or exciting.
Is punctual and good at managing their own workload.
Be able to follow strict health & safety rules and theatre working practices and to understand why it is important to do so.
Has an interest in the environment and environmental issues of today and the future

Skills Required

Communication skills, Attention to detail, Organisation skills, Problem solving skills, Logical, Creative, Team working,

Training to be provided:

This occupation is found in a broad range of creative and dynamic industries for example theatre, TV, film, fashion, commercials and print media (editorial). The broad purpose of the occupation is to uphold the highest standards of hygiene and technical application to achieve the required look meeting agreed standards for productions/performances across a range of artists, periods and cultures whilst maintaining health & safety requirements.

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: History of hairstyles and make-up. The typical characteristics of period styles through the centuries to allow further detailed research to be undertaken.
K2: Research methods to ensure that make-up, hair, wigs, facial and prosthetics meet Supervisor/Designer /Director requirements for example, historical period
K3: Understand the overall look required for each role for example different age groups using drawings, photographs or models to identify the Supervisor/Designer/Director design requirements
K4: The design process including the development of a detailed plan which must contain details of the performer, their role, design references including costumes, how many looks, if using own hair, a wig or hair pieces, switches and weft pieces, own facial or is facial required, any known allergies or sensitivities, colour palette for hair/wig and make up; sfx prosthetics required; timescales for making, fittings and application
K5: The range of tools and materials required for hair, wigs, make-up and prosthetics activities including those for wig, hair piece, facial making; hair, wig, hair piece, switches and weft pieces, facial cutting, styling and application; make-up application; sfx making and application
K6: Health and Safety Legislation, Regulations, policies and procedures including hygiene standards, data protection, COSHH, Manual Handling and producing Risk Assessments.
K7: Environmental Legislation including storage and disposal of chemicals, disposal of rubbish; recycling, as it applies to the role.
K8: Impact on and requirements of other departments to complete hair, wigs, make-up and prosthetics activities
K9: How to prepare and store detailed design notes, reference sheets and photographs for individual performers to ensure consistency and continuity throughout the performance/production
K10: The requirements of the preparatory stages, rehearsals and actual performance/production
K11: How to assess individual performer’s make-up requirements in accordance with the plan and identify workspace, environment, allergies/sensitivities, skin type, colour, skincare and timings
K12: The range of make-up assessment techniques to ensure the required look
K13: A variety of make-up application techniques for body and face for example brushes, sponges, stippling, painting, airbrushing, stencils, embellishment
K14: Equipment set up, maintenance, cleaning and storage
K15: Colour assessment techniques including colour mixing; colour washes; highlights and shades
K16: Airbrushing techniques including spray techniques (lines, areas, shades, highlighting and shading; concealing; even colour washing); using stencils, templates, masking; temporary tattoos, body painting, tanning
K17: Monitor and touch-up make-up processes to ensure continuity for the duration of the performance/production
K18: Typical make-up allergic reactions and action required
K19: Make-up removal process including hygiene and material disposal requirements
K20: Hair preparation techniques for wig, hair piece, switch, weft or facial making including assessing/selecting according to texture, type, length, colour/shade, pre-blend/mix as drawn as required, colouring or root shading as required
K21: Pressure boiling and perming for pre-curling
K22: Storage requirements for hair/wig/hair piece/switch/weft/facial hair including tying hair bundles, washing wigs and hair pieces
K23: Fitting techniques for head wraps and measurements, face wraps, preparation of the head/face block and foundation making using whipping or sewing techniques
K24: Prepare for and knot facial hair, wigs and hair pieces using a variety of knotting techniques and knotting direction template/instructions to meet design requirements
K25: Weft making, using weaving technique, to required density and colour, to stitch into wigs or incorporate into artists own hair
K26: Switch making from weft pieces, using a twisting machine, to incorporate into a wig or artists own hair
K27: A range of typical techniques covering, periods, cultures and genres to cut, colour, set and dress and style hair, set and dress-out wigs or hair pieces and cut and dress-out facial hair to meet design requirements
K28: Processes for life casting, mould making, use of foam latexes and silicones and surface rendering
K29: Prosthetics creation including bald caps, body parts, wounds and blemishes
K30: Prosthetics application process including fitting and comfort, blending edges and colouring
K31: Typical prosthetics allergic reactions and the actions to take if they occur
K32: Prosthetics removal process including health and safety impact
K33: A range of modelling products to create injuries
K34: A range of stage bloods products for different effects
K35: Injury fitting techniques
K36: Stage blood application process
K37: The range of resources required to support hair, wigs, make-up and prosthetics activities for example stock, budget, tools and equipment
K38: The production schedules and their impact on personal workload

Skills

S1: Use research to establish exact make-up, hair, wigs, facial and prosthetics requirements of the Supervisor/ Designer/Director to meet requirements
S2: Produce a detailed plan for the make-up/hair/wigs/facial/prosthetics to meet the Supervisor/Designer/Director requirements to include:Tools and materials, Health and Safety Legislation, Regulations, policies and procedures including Risk Assessments, hygiene standards, data protection, Environmental Legislation impact, Impact on and requirements of other departments, design notes, reference sheets and photographs to ensure consistency and continuity, the requirements of the preparatory stages, rehearsals and actual performance/production, timescales
S3: Choose and apply make-up to meet the design requirements
S4: Undertake colour assessment in order to apply body and facial make-up
S5: Prepare and maintain equipment including cleaning and storage after use
S6: Monitor and touch-up make-up to ensure continuity for the duration of the performance/production
S7: Explain what to do if an allergic reaction to make-up occurs
S8: Remove make-up in accordance with hygiene requirements, dispose of materials in accordance with process requirements
S9: Store make-up removal products, tools and equipment in accordance with process requirements
S10: Prepare hair for wig, hair piece, switch, weft, facial making including assessing/selecting according to texture, type, length, colour/shade, pre-blend/mix as drawn, colouring or root shading as required
S11: Pre-curl hair as required
S12: Store hair, wigs, hair pieces, switches, weft, facial hair in accordance with requirements
S13: Take head wraps including measurements, face wraps, creating head/face blocks and making foundations to meet design requirements
S14: Knot facial hair, wigs and hair pieces using a knotting direction template/instructions to meet design requirements
S15: Make weft pieces and switches to meet design requirements
S16: Make alterations and repairs to wigs
S17: Cut, colour, set, dress-out and style hair: set and dress-out wigs or hair pieces and cut and dress-out facial hair to meet design requirements
S18: Create prosthetics including bald caps, body parts, wounds and blemishes
S19: Apply prosthetics ensuring fit and comfort, blending edges and colouring
S20: Explain what to do if an allergic reaction to prosthetics occurs
S21: Remove prosthetics in accordance with health and safety requirements
S22: Create and fit injuries to meet design requirements
S23: Apply stage bloods to meet design requirements
S24: Monitor spend/use of resources and highlight under/overspend/use in accordance with agreed process
S25: Develop a personal work plan to identify potential periods of peak workloads

Behaviours

B1: Is respectful of others views and beliefs – equality, diversity and inclusion
B2: Works effectively with others
B3: Continuously develops their knowledge and skills
B4: Pays attention to achieve the detail required
B5: Balances many differing elements of work
B6: Takes ownership of work
B7: Plans work and manages time

Things to consider

The closing date for the position is Monday, the 23rd of February at 10.00am - any applications submitted after this time cannot be accepted.

This is a Level 3 apprenticeship; therefore, applicants must be suitable for study at that level and NOT:

Hold a degree in theatre, tv, film or design, HND, or a post graduate qualification or Hairdressing qualification above level 2.
Have extensive intermediate (or above) experience (over 6 months) of working professionally in Wigs, Hair and Makeup in the creative industries or health and beauty sector.

Future prospects:

This apprenticeship is for those with a passion for theatre, who haven’t yet had experience of working in professional theatre. It is designed to provide you with the skills necessary to work as a wigs and make-up technician in the wider creative and cultural sector, and although it is possible that future opportunities for work may arise, it is not intended that this apprenticeship will lead to a permanent position with the NT.

THE ROYAL NATIONAL THEATRE

3 roles available