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Job Description / Duties

Who are we looking for?

The Head Dresser is a permanent part-time role, a key part of our costume running crew. This role will work under the supervision of the Technical Director and the Head of Wardrobe. Scheduling of this position will be as required, depending on the specific demands of each production. This is a unionized position under the Arts Club Theatre Company/I.A.T.S.E. 118 Collective agreement. Generally this position will be part of most of the Stanley season’s running crew, working on each performance.

We are looking for a creative, out-going, and enthusiastic person who has a passion for costuming. The successful applicant will have a keen eye for detail, and have a generous and warm personality as they help to make the cast feel comfortable and safe each night as they assist with all of their costume changes. The head dresser will have a capacity for leadership and teamwork as they help to coordinate the backstage costume team on sometimes large and dazzling theatrical productions.

What is the job?

• Assist designers, Head of Costumes and Asst. Dressers, with the respective needs while in the theatre.
• Pre and post show wardrobe set up, including distribution of laundry and dry cleaning, pack up of laundry and dry cleaning, costume pre-sets for actor changes, as well as any repair notes that can be accomplished on site.
• Keep track of costumes and their placement during a production and provide appropriate documentation.
• Help establish quick change areas, rehearsing and refining costume changes with actors.
• Ability to put on wig preps, properly apply and secure wigs, change wigs during the show, remove wigs post show, clean and block lace fronted wigs, daily maintenance and refreshing of wigs.
• Apply facial hair, including taped and spirit gummed pieces, remove, clean and re-block facial pieces pre and post show.
• Assist other stage crew during show (e.g. during scene changes).
• Assist with occupational safety and health of workers; keep work area safe, tidy and hygienic.

Qualifications / Required Skills

What are the required skills and qualifications?

• Broad knowledge in costuming procedures, problem solving, tools and theatre products.
• Proficient working knowledge of costume maintenance (sewing and mending experience).
• Able to lead assigned running crew (dressers and wigs) during technical rehearsals and run of show.
• Able to work in a fast pace environment maintaining a positive attitude in sometimes stressful situations.
• Able to climb stairs and carry weight of up to 25 lbs. repeatedly.
• Proven extensive experience dressing in professional theatre.
• Experience with styling, maintaining and applying wigs and facial pieces
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient working in the MS Office suite (email, Excel, Word, etc.).

Additional Information

What are the conditions and remuneration?

• Work is scheduled based on the needs of a show – flexibility will be required. Hours will fluctuate (more hours while in technical rehearsals, while an average show run will be a 32 hours / 8 performance weekly schedule).
• Work will be evenings and weekends primarily.
• Primarily you will work at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
• Hourly rate is set by IATSE Collective Agreement (Sept 21-22: $29.19/hr)
• Option to be included in IATSE RRSP Matching Program
• Comprehensive Benefits Package through IATSE Local 118
• 3 Weeks Vacation per year, and 10 Days PTO for illness and emergency.

Salary: $29.19/hr

Contact Information

How to Apply:

The Arts Club is fiercely dedicated to being an organization that continually respects, champions, and uplifts underrepresented voices in all jobs; and we strongly welcome and encourage those who self-identify as coming from underrepresented communities to submit.

Access and inclusion are deeply important to us. For those who have barriers to access to any part of our process as laid out, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and we will happily work with you to create a process that is accessible to you.

If this role sounds exciting and you’d like to learn more, please send your resume and cover letter to humanresources@artsclub.com.

Employer Profile

The Arts Club Theatre Company is Canada’s largest not-for-profit urban theatre company. The Arts Club Theatre Company produces professional live theatre at three locations - The Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Granville Island Stage and The Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre as well as offering productions on tour throughout the province. The Arts Club Theatre Company offices, rehearsal halls, workshops, and theatres are all located on the unceded, ancestral and traditional shared lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

The Arts Club Theatre Company is in an exciting period of transition as we look ahead to a full production line up for the coming season. We are looking closely at how we practice theatre and believe the Arts Club should be a great place to work for all. We value determination, curiosity, creativity and comradery. We strive to provide a safe work environment, both physically and mentally, and we have made ongoing commitments to inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression. We want the stories we work together to tell to have nuanced and varied perspectives.