Costume Designer Brief for Belonging

28 Jul 2026

BELONGING: Our Search for Home Costume Designer Brief

Led by Wimborne Community Theatre and working with Millstream Theatre, Kingston Lacy, and Wimborne Town of Culture via Wimborne Minster Town Council (WMTC),

BELONGING: Our Search for Home, is a large-scale production that will bring together residents of all ages to create and perform a new piece of theatre inspired by their experiences of home. Performances will take place outdoors within the grounds of Kingston Lacy in late September.

As the Costume Designer for BELONGING, your role is to lead the design, sourcing, and coordination of costumes for both the core company and our community cast. Operating in collaboration with the wider production team, WCT, and the creative directors, you will ensure the visual identity of the show fits the landscape, meets practical outdoor evening demands, and makes our community performers feel confident and unified on stage.

Key Responsibilities

Collaborative Design: Work alongside the creative team and WCT to establish a cohesive costume aesthetic that suits an outdoor, site-specific promenade performance. Building on existing ideas and research suggested and devised by company members.
Community Cast Management: Coordinate fittings, sourcing, and adaptations for performers of all ages and sizes across the community cast, ensuring everyone is comfortable and performance-ready.
Site & Weather Practicalities: Design with outdoor conditions in mind (e.g., durability, weatherproofing, ease of movement through uneven terrain and landscape).
Budget & Sourcing: Manage the costume budget efficiently, utilising sourcing, alterations, and any existing stock where appropriate.
Get-In & Running Support: Oversee costume quick-changes, maintenance, and organisation during the tech and performance run (September 19th – 27th).
Logistics & H&S Alignment •
Integration with WCT: Work within existing WCT templates, insurance guidelines, and production protocols. • Production Meetings: Attend regular production meetings to coordinate scheduling with the Production Manager, Stage Manager, and lighting/technical teams (ensuring costumes work safely with lighting choices, torches, and site movement). • Logistics: Consider the logistics required for the costumes to be outdoors with community cast members within multiple sites, limited changing spaces and limited resources! Fee • £2000 (inclusive of travel/expenses, if applicable) + £500 budget allocation. (inclusive of travel/expenses, if applicable) Key Dates • Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings and Sundays • Youth workshops: 25th & 26th August • Get in & Tech: 19th & 20th September • Performance days: 22nd – 27th September, 6pm house opens for pre-show activity, 7pm show starts. 1hr 50 mins running time approx. Application process To apply, please send your CV (no more than 2 pages), an Equal Opportunities Form and a supporting statement outlining your relevant experience delivering productions and why you’re excited about this opportunity either as: • A written statement – maximum 1 page or • Audio/video submission – maximum 5 minutes

atherproofing, ease of movement through uneven terrain and landscape). • Budget & Sourcing: Manage the costume budget efficiently, utilising sourcing, alterations, and any existing stock where appropriate. • Get-In & Running Support: Oversee costume quick-changes, maintenance, and organisation during the tech and performance run (September 19th – 27th). Logistics & H&S Alignment • Integration with WCT: Work within existing WCT templates, insurance guidelines, and production protocols. • Production Meetings: Attend regular production meetings to coordinate scheduling with the Production Manager, Stage Manager, and lighting/technical teams (ensuring costumes work safely with lighting choices, torches, and site movement). • Logistics: Consider the logistics required for the costumes to be outdoors with community cast members within multiple sites, limited changing spaces and limited resources! Fee • £2000 (inclusive of travel/expenses, if applicable) + £500 budget allocation. (inclusive of travel/expenses, if applicable) Key Dates • Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings and Sundays • Youth workshops: 25th & 26th August • Get in & Tech: 19th & 20th September • Performance days: 22nd – 27th September, 6pm house opens for pre-show activity, 7pm show starts. 1hr 50 mins running time approx. Application process To apply, please send your CV (no more than 2 pages), an Equal Opportunities Form and a supporting statement outlining your relevant experience delivering productions and why you’re excited about this opportunity either as: • A written statement – maximum 1 page or • Audio/video submission – maximum 5 minutes Applications should be sent to emma.kerr@wimborne.gov.uk by 10am on Monday 10th August 2026. Selection Process Applications will be reviewed by a panel including Wimborne Community Theatre members and local residents. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an informal conversation online or in person on Wednesday 12th August. Wimborne Minster Town Council and Wimborne Community Theatre are committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are currently underrepresented in the cultural sector.