Wigs,Hair&Makeup Tutor (WHAM) - Royal Academy of Dramatic Art : Job Details

Wigs,Hair&Makeup Tutor (WHAM)Salary: £19,090 per annum pro rata of (£38,180 per annum)Contract type: PermanentHours: 0.5 contract (18.75 hours a week)Closing date: 12 noon, Friday 19 September 2025

The Role:Pass on your skills & experience to the students of RADA and join our busy Costume Department as WHAM Tutor.

We are looking for an experienced Wigs, Hair and Make-up Professional to share in the training of our technical theatre students and to participate in the preparation of the public shows at RADA.

The successful applicant will be involved with running some teaching sessions with the Technical and Stage Management Foundation Degree and Degree course, Post Graduate Costume Course and the BA Acting Courses.

The successful applicant will be required to liaise with the Costume Designer and Director of the RADA public shows to create the hair and make up and realise them in hair and make-up calls. They will also supervise the preparation of the looks, and discuss how they are achieved, within budget and other restraints, with advice and training given in the evening preparation.

Other linear sessions could be carried out, in discussion with the Head of Costume, such as skin and hair care, basic hair and make up skills, FX make up and possibly wig knotting.

Experience in Hair and make-up within a theatre setting is essential, with a high level of skill in styling and maintaining Afro and textured hair, as well as straight hair.

Experience in working with a variety of skin tones with knowledge of the different colour tones of light on skin, and advantage.

The hours are varied and includes evening and weekend. We endeavour to allow the RADA hours to give time for outside work or time away.

The role requires a committed, self-motivated person who works well in a team and can lead diplomatically, confidently and with care and attention to furthering RADA’s goals of creating dedicated, confident and skilled Theatre Professionals.

Please see Job description for a full breakdown of duties.

The Team:

The Costume Department consists of the Head of costume, Costume Tutor Assistant. as well as the WHAM specialist.

We are very interested in hearing from Black, Asian, and Global Majority candidates as well as candidates who identify as disabled. RADA is embarking on a journey to become an anti-racist institution and is committed to supporting candidates in their positions, ensuring that the workplace is safe and inclusive for all. If you require any support to be able to take part in the interview process, please let us know when you apply, and we will ensure our interview process is accessible for you.

About us

Founded in 1904, RADA has an unparalleled record of success in training some of the world’s most renowned actors and technical specialists. Ours is an impressive history on which we are building an innovative future. RADA training is not only informed by the industry but also produces graduates who take their place at the vanguard of their profession working at the cutting edge of the dramatic arts. We have an ambitious strategy to encourage students from all circumstances and backgrounds to come to RADA.

We aim to be fair and equitable and enable dialogue in a world of rapidly changing demographics and evolving definitions of identity. Through our approach to teaching, learning and wider social engagement we foreground equitable and sustainable practice in a way that sets high standards and feeds expectations for fair and considerate behaviour both in RADA and beyond. Our access and participation programme aims to remove any barriers that students from underrepresented groups may encounter so they are able to access and succeed on our courses, and progress into the industry.

This is an exciting time to join us. We are developing a new vision and strategy for RADA, building on its existing successes to redefine training in the dramatic arts for the 21st century, focusing on key themes of training and student experience, growth, industry, and international dialogue and engagement.

In addition to our aims for our vocational training, we are working from our foundational strengths to grow our income streams through life-changing work, aligned with our core pedagogy and ethos. We aim to co-create with industry and other stakeholders to build on our reputation as a centre of excellence and innovation in our field.