In February we'll announce our Festival 2026 programme which runs from March to October, and we're looking for a brilliant backstage team to join us, with contracts of various lengths and start dates which can be discussed at interview. 

The 2026 Festival season promises a fantastic mix of plays and musicals, including world premieres and new writing. We work with some of the UK’s most prominent theatrical creative teams in our two world class theatres, as well as a variety of other spaces across the Festival Season. We bring people – artists and those who support artistic work – together, in an environment where creatively they can flourish and where everyone is valued. 

Roles available:

Wardrobe Managers and Assistants – 

(£640 - £690 per week + subs where applicable – average 48 hour week)

Our Head of Costume is seeking applicants at all stages of their careers for roles in the running wardrobe team. Although primarily a running department, the team take on some making, alteration and repair duties, and have the opportunity to work directly with designers and supervisors to create our work. 

Dressers - 

(£500 per week + subs where applicable – average 40 hour week), salary will be formally reviewed in April 2026 in line with the National Minimum Wage

We have a range of contracts available for show dressers - the ideal route into the theatre costume world these roles particularly suit early career graduates or applicants with experience from the world of fashion and who would like the opportunity to work on performance based hours. 

Wardrobe Maintenance - 

(£366 per week + subs where applicable – average 30 hour week), salary will be formally reviewed in April 2026 in line with the National Minimum Wage

Support and work closely with the Senior Wardrobe team with the daily laundry, ironing of costume and costume alterations, repairs and other projects. 

Wigs, Hair and Makeup (WHAM) Managers and Assistants - 

(£640 - £690 per week + subs where applicable – average 48 hour week)

We are looking for WHAM running teams who will work across all shows preparing and applying wigs, postiche and makeup and running show plots, working directly with the designers and supervisors on each show under the leadership of the Head of Costume.

How to apply

Please apply by submitting your CV and covering letter to recruitment@cft.org.uk. In the subject line let us know which role/s you are applying for.  In your covering letter, please let us know how your experience matches the requirements of the person specification (found in the Job Description for the role). Don’t forget to tell us why you would like to work at CFT.

We'd love to hear about what makes you a great fit in your own words. We encourage candidates not to rely on AI for their applications, as a more personalised approach gives us a better sense of who you are.