Wardrobe Assistant

Who We Are:

Based in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is one of the world’s foremost repertory theatre companies. It operates year-round, presenting a season of about a dozen plays each year between the months of April and November, a rich stream of digital content and hundreds of events designed to deepen understanding of the plays. For every person a theatregoer sees on our stages, we have seven people working behind the scenes, some of the world’s most dedicated and experienced arts workers.

The Stratford Festival is committed to ongoing work to support equity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression in all areas of our work. These areas include play selection, casting, marketing and public relations efforts, education programs, production, design, recruitment of staff and volunteers, and the composition of the Board of Directors.

Why You Should Apply:

• Creative work environment     
• Employee Assistance Program to encourage work-life balance and strong mental health
• Complimentary & discounted ticket offers and events
• Employee discounts on merchandise and event space
• Being a part of the magic of live theatre!

​​The Wardrobe Assistant is responsible for coordinating and maintaining fitting rooms and adjacent areas to support costume fittings and production needs. This role involves preparing required items for fittings, organizing inventory, completing sewing tasks, assisting costume construction teams, and ensuring a clean, efficient, and well-stocked workspace. Reporting to the Costume Director, the Wardrobe Assistant collaborates with wardrobe, design, and buying teams to facilitate costume movement between venues and maintain stock of notions and fabrics. This position also supports the general upkeep of wardrobe areas and the smooth operation of costume department activities across productions and venues.​

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate, monitor and maintain all fitting rooms and adjacent areas.  
• Provide wardrobe and design teams with all required items before and during fittings. 
• Ensure fitting rooms and storage areas are fully stocked and tidy.  
• Label inventory in actors’ personal boxes for each production.  
• Complete sewing tasks, as required, including building laundry labels, dress shields and mic packs. 
• Work with the Costume Buyers to tidy, maintain and inventory notions and fabric stock. 
• Assist on costume construction tasks in both wardrobe and crafts areas, as available. 
• Work with wardrobe and design teams to coordinate the movement of costumes between Festival venues.   
• Adhere to the Stratford Festival Health & Safety Commitment and Procedures and ensure that safe work practices and policies are supported and enforced within the reporting structure. 
• Foster a caring and inclusive work environment consistent with all Stratford Festival policies on equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• ​​​​Post-secondary diploma program, typically a two year program, or equivalent, (i.e. Community college, Technical Institute or Trade School, etc.)​ in ​costume construction or theatre production is an asset.​ 
• ​​1 to 2 years​ of related experience 
• ​​Strong interpersonal and communication skills and an ability to work effectively as a member of a team. 
• ​Willingness to take direction, adopt new techniques and methods, and learn new skills. 
• ​Ability to self-motivate and work independently, with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage time effectively. 
• ​Proficiency in hand and machine sewing and a knowledge of basic costume construction techniques. ​​​ 

Behavioural Competencies:

• ​​Communication: actively listen and effectively transmit and receive information​ 
• ​​Attention to Detail: meticulously review work and ensure accuracy and precision in all tasks.​ 
• ​​Organization skills: create structure and optimally use resources to achieve results and ensure productivity​ 
• ​​Initiative: proactively execute tasks and resolve issues with minimal guidance​ 
• Adaptability / Agility: seamlessly adjust to changes in environment or situation; readily learn alternative approaches and methods 
• Teamwork: readily work with others towards a shared goal, actively support teammates and recognize everyone’s contributions 

This seasonal full-time posting is for an existing vacancy located in Stratford, Ontario and will begin January 25, 2027 - August 20, 2027. This position requires the candidate to work onsite. Regular work hours for this position are Monday to Friday, but may require the candidate to work holiday and weekend hours as scheduled.

Job Type: Seasonal Full-Time

Hourly Rate 2026: $24.25

Application Deadline: November 20, 2026.

Shared Values:

• Inclusion: contribute to an environment where everyone is welcome, valued and respected; consistently demonstrate an open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity that promote and celebrate the diversity of perspectives.
• Innovation: put experience and knowledge into creative problem-solving and the continuous improvement of the organization.
• Rigor: show integrity in behaviour, attention to detail in work and commitment to excellence and professional evolution
• Caring: be empathetic, understanding and attentive to others
• Connection: establish and maintain trusting relationships that are respectful and constructive

Who Should Apply:

We welcome applicants of every identity, and encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Deaf, disabled and 2SLGBTQ+ folks. We are committed to accommodating people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and beyond. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternative format documents, ASL Interpreter or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our recruitment team know.

No candidate will meet every desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you!

If you would like to contribute your own remarkable talents to North America’s largest not-for-profit theatre, we’d like to hear from you.