Job Description:
WHAM Deputy (Seasonal) Company Overview Founded in 2007 by Mike and Alison Battle, Lapland began with a simple but powerful purpose: to honour the wonder of childhood at Christmas. Frustrated by the poor quality of festive experiences available for their own four boys, the Battles set out to elevate this moment of childhood and reimagine the Father Christmas myth through original storytelling, meticulous set design, and emotionally resonant live theatre. Their ground-breaking immersive show opened in 2007 and immediately captured the attention and hearts of parents nationwide. Powered by their purpose, the couple partnered with Hollywood set designers and West End performance professionals to produce an experience of unprecedented quality and detail. With an NPS of 72 (outperforming industry icons in the entertainment space), Lapland's customer loyalty is second to none and has now welcomed nearly 2 million 'believers,' with tickets selling out on release for what the press now terms 'the Glastonbury of Christmas'. Today, the Lapland Group is a fast-growing purpose driven entertainment business spanning the three pillars of Live, Product and Studios. In 2024, Lapland's eCommerce revenues grew tenfold, driven by the launch of magical at-home products like personalised Letters from Lapland…. (Advent calendar and soon, a Christmas Eve Experience?). These products extend the Lapland world into the home, deepening belief and connection beyond the physical experience. At the same time, our original story universe continues to scale through media. In 2023, Lapland launched its first podcast, Elfcast, which achieved No. 1 in the UK Family Charts and ranked in the global top 10 over Christmas. With plans to expand into audio and content year-round, our IP and characters are reaching audiences in new and emotionally resonant ways. With immersive Live experiences, high-growth eCommerce, and a rapidly expanding original content, Lapland is on a mission to become the definitive global Christmas brand anchored in belief, storytelling, and the enduring magic of childhood. Location: Lapland UK Live Sites: London: Swinley Forest, Ascot. Manchester: Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield. We will discuss preference of locations during your interview. Key Dates: London: Start Date: 14th September 2026 Preview Day: 5th November 2026 Opening Day: 7th November 2026 Close Date: 24th December 2026 De-Rig: 27th December – 19th January Manchester: Start Date: 14th November 2026 Preview Day: 5th/6th November 2026 Opening Day: 7th November 2026 End Date: 24th December 2026 De-Rig: 27th December – 30th December Interviews: 1st - 4th June 2026 Reports to: Live Site WHAM Manager. Role Overview, Seasonal Contract: The WHAM Deputy plays a critical role in ensuring continuity of leadership, maintaining department standards, and supporting the smooth daily operational flow within the principles and FC departments, whilst offering support in groups. In this position, the WHAM Deputy oversees the daily WHAM operation, including daily staffing, and the consistent delivery of department-wide quality. They are expected to make confident, well-informed decisions, provide strong support to Assistants and the wider team, and escalate issues appropriately when required. The WHAM Deputy is responsible for setting and upholding best practice across the department, ensuring that all health and safety procedures, WHAM protocols, and performance-ready standards are consistently met. Strong communication skills, proactive problem-solving, and a calm, professional presence during high-pressure and busy periods are essential. WHAM & Wardrobe Structure: The WHAM room sits with in the wardrobe structure closest to our principal department. The Department is made up of three sub-departments, each with a dedicated team assigned for the duration of the run: Principals: The principals department supports 50 performers daily, The WHAM team are responsible for ensuring all actors apply their make up correctly in accordance with the design and facechart they are given for that character, offer support with hair prep, apply all wigs and facial hair to the highest standard, apply hats and ensure these are pinned in correctly and will withstand 12 hours on set. This area demands meticulous continuity management, strong attention to detail, and an exceptionally organised workflow to meet the pace and precision of the performance schedule. Father Christmas: Dedicated exclusively to our most iconic role, this department supports 50 Father Christmas performers throughout the day. Responsibilities include maintaining setting and dressing facial hair, providing support to Father Christmas during application. Ensuring immaculate presentation before and during his time with guests. Wham also provide support to the FC wardrobe assistants including training in care of facial hair. Groups: Working with ensemble and crowd performers, Groups is a high-energy, fast-paced environment. Each day, over 200 elves are dressed across 15 different costume designs, requiring excellent organisation, consistency, quality control, and rapid turnaround. Although WHAM are not directly linked to the groups, we offer support to the Wardrobe team in ensuring the hair is done to a good standard and make up applied correctly. Show & Shift Information: The show runs daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm, with a new audience beginning their journey every 30 minutes. Each audience experiences approximately 1.5 hours of scripted performance, followed by 1.5 hours of immersive free time in the Elven Village, before meeting Father Christmas. WHAM shifts are split as follows: AM Shift: 6:00am – 3:00pm, PM Shift: 2:45pm – 11:45pm. The show operates 7 days a week. Wardrobe schedules follow a 5 days on / 2 days off rota, with no guaranteed weekend days off. The Team & Opportunity: This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a large, passionate team within a fun, fast-paced environment. Per site, we are recruiting: 1 Deputy, 10 WHAM Assistants. We are deeply committed to developing and nurturing our teams. Our goal is to build a department that encourages growth, progression, and return year after year — creating a strong, experienced WHAM team that continues to deliver exceptional standards and unforgettable shows. Life at LaplandUK: At LaplandUK, we believe in the magic of collaboration, a steadfast commitment to excellence, and a team that's always willing to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Working with us means being part of a dynamic environment where collaboration brings out the best in everyone, diverse talents converge, and innovation thrives. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every team member is dedicated to achieving the highest standards, contributing to a workplace culture that values continuous improvement and outstanding results. We're not just looking for employees; we want people who are excited to get involved, embrace challenges, and bring a hands-on approach to their work, creating a workplace full of positivity and collective success. Overall, working at LaplandUK offers a chance to be part of something truly special, where the wonder of childhood is celebrated by a team dedicated to making memories for over 40,000 families each year. Passion for the Mission: We are in service to belief. We understand the importance of what we do and its legacy. One Company: We only succeed together. We are a positive and caring group of people who embrace developing Lapland and ourselves. Driven to Deliver Excellence: Belief is in the detail. Powered by our purpose we challenge and innovate to exceed expectations in everything we do.
