Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic
Nicola Jane Thorp

Nicola Jane Thorp

Selby,North Yorkshire

Summary

An enthusiastic, hard-working, patient, and diplomatic makeup artist, wig stylist, and wig maker with solid communication and interpersonal skills developed through many years working in paid and self-employed roles, including private business ownership and management and experienced in training staff as a Manager and teaching Beauty Therapy in both further and higher education, which has been challenging and extremely rewarding. An awareness of Equality and Diversity promoted the ability to encourage staff to work hard to achieve goals. I am now looking to continue to develop a flourishing career as a makeup artist and wig stylist within theatre, film, and television by joining an established, thriving company. I am an organised and dependable candidate, successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude—willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Committed manager with exceptional leadership, organisational skills and communication.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Deputy Head of WHAM swing

Cameron Mackintosh and Disney
Tour
04.2025 - Current
  • Worked cohesively with 5 other members of the team
  • Covering 2 busy show plots
  • Assisted with the maintenance of the wigs
  • Covering sick days and Holidays

Makeup Designer and Wigs supervisor, Scissorhands

Wild Park Entertainment
Southwark, London
01.2025 - Current
  • Liaised with the Costume Designer and Producers to create a Wigs brief to complete their vision for all the characters. Sourced and created the wigs following the agreed brief.
  • Executed high quality designs using allocated resources and budget, which was achieved and also left enough budget to add additional wigs and cover wigs.
  • Communicated with the makeup designer from the film of Scissorhands to ensure continuity of the principal character makeup transferred from film to stage.
  • Educated the cast in specific makeup and wig application, due to no trained WHAM crew member available daily.
  • Provided ongoing guidance, support and maintenance for the Wigs and Makeup for the run of the show.
  • Created a Wigs and Makeup Bible.


Deputy Head of Wigs

PGSM Super Live UK Ltd
London
02.2025 - 03.2025
  • Worked closely with the Japanese wig team to ensure continuity of the show during Tech week.
  • Supported the Head of wigs with managing a team of 4.
  • Washed, dressed and maintained the wigs .
  • The show was over 2 venues so packed and unpacked all the wigs and equipment ready to be transported to other venue.
  • Followed a busy plot throughout the show , including multiple quick changes.
  • Worked via a translator as many of the cast did not speak English.

Head of Wigs Hair and Makeup. Hairspray

Mark Goucher Productions
Touring UK and Ireland
07.2024 - 01.2025
  • Large scale musical with over 60 wigs
  • Managed a team of Three.
  • Worked with the designer to create the looks for the show.
  • Wrote wig plots for the team, training them in what was required for each hairstyle.
  • Maintained and dressed the wigs daily to ensure they were all ready for all the shows , dress rehearsals and cover runs and external appearances( Blue Peter)
  • Ordered stock and completed petty cash to replenish stock as needed.
  • Attended regular Head of department meetings.
  • Actively involved with the weekly get in and outs making sure that all wigs and stock are packed safely for travel to the next venue.
  • Acted effectively with any issues that arose throughout the run of the show.

Mobile & Salon Beauty Therapist and Hairdresser

Self Employed
, North Yorkshire
01.1998 - Current
  • Mobile and Salon based.
  • Duties: Providing a wide range of full-body treatments to clients in salon environments and their homes, including (but not limited to) Massage, Manicure and nail enhancement, and bridal hair and make-up service.

Head of Wigs Hair and Makeup, Unfortunate

Wild Park Entertainment
Touring, United Kingdom
02.2024 - 07.2024
  • Liaise with the costume and wig designer
  • Ensure that all wigs, cast makeup and equipment are packed and unpacked and arrive at each venue in good condition.
  • Styling human and synthetic wigs daily to maintain their appearance, washing on a regular basis.
  • General maintenance and fixing wigs that get damaged ,styling natural hair and apply wigs including quick wig changes throughout the performances.
  • Keeping stock levels consistent for all makeup and skincare products, working to a budget, completing petty cash forms.
  • Assisting cast with makeup application and advice.
  • Provided Hairdressing and Barbering services.
  • Attending photo shoots for publicity when required.

Head of wigs- Too Wong Foo the Musical

Hope Mill Theatre
Manchester
10.2023 - 12.2023
  • Set up the wig room and prepared all the wigs during Tech week
  • Responsible for maintaining, setting, and dressing 42 wigs including Human, synthetic and textured hair wigs.
  • Managed a team of 2, organising cover and replacement for the wig deputy.
  • Applying the wigs before each show
  • Quick wig changes throughout the show
  • Removal of wigs and preparing them for maintenance the next day
  • Responsible for ordering stock needed throughout the run of the show
  • Assisted in costume changes to ensure the smooth running of the show
  • Provided Hair cutting and Barbering to cast as required.
  • Liaised with the wig designer
  • Broke down the wig room, and packaged the wigs to be returned to the wig designer.

Deputy Head of wigs

Hairspray
06.2023 - 08.2023
  • Cutting, styling and maintaining wigs,
  • Follow show track with quick wig changes, throughout the show
  • Ensured the wigs were cleaned and prepped for the show.

Barber and swing wig stylist

Neville Holt Opera
06.2023 - 06.2023
  • And wig stylist swing
  • Duties: Cutting the male cast's hair in keeping with the styles set out by the hair and make-up designer
  • Setting and dressing wigs

Unit Driver

The Rural Chauffeur
04.2023 - 04.2023
  • Interacted with customers pleasantly and professionally, delivering first-class care and service.
  • Notified management of vehicle safety concerns and issues, enabling prompt maintenance and repair.
  • Delivered outstanding customer care to clients, driving safely and responsibly to maintain customer comfort and security.

Deputy head of wigs

Peaky Blinders ,The Rise
01.2023 - 01.2023
  • Swing deputy head of WHAM

Deputy Head of wigs

Peaky Blinders, The Rise
10.2022 - 11.2022
  • Maintaining the wigs, following the show track with quick changes, including applying simple special effects

Barber

Neville Holt Opera
07.2022 - 07.2022
  • Wig stylist swing
  • Duties: Cutting the male cast's hair in keeping with the styles set out by the hair and make-up designer
  • Setting and dressing wigs

Unit Driver

The rural Chauffeur, Firebrand
04.2022 - 06.2022
  • Delivered outstanding customer care to clients, driving safely and responsibly to maintain customer comfort and security.
  • Interacted with customers pleasantly and professionally, delivering first-class care and service.

Trainee Make-up Artist

Firebrand
05.2022 - 05.2022
  • 05/2022
  • Firebrand- Swing make-up Trainee
  • Duties: Preparing the make-up tent for call time, preparing the continuity sheets with the relevant wigs and hairpieces and distributing them to the make-up artists

Unit driver

The Rural Chauffeur
08.2021 - 01.2022
  • Delivered outstanding customer care to clients, driving safely and responsibly to maintain customer comfort and security.
  • Interacted with customers pleasantly and professionally, delivering first-class care and service.

Posh Nailz
11.2016 - 03.2020
  • Nail educator; working from the Selby and York training centres
  • Duties: Teaching different nail enhancement techniques

Make-up Artist

Blake Allen Productions
Wakefield
07.2002 - 01.2020
  • One-day shoot
  • Film to be released
  • Duties: Volunteer Make-up Artist
  • I was responsible for applying and maintaining the actors' make-up and hairstyling on set to ensure continuity.

Education

PGCE - Education and training

Huddersfield University
09.2022 - 09.2023

QCF Cert in Education & training. QCF Cert in Assessing Vocational Achievement - Education, Training and assessing

Posh Nailz
Selby, North Yorkshire
03.2016 - 05.2016

7 Day intensive wig making course

WHAM
London
09.2024

Bachelor of Arts - Media Make-up, Special effects and Hair design

York College
09.2019 - 06.2022

ITEC and City & Guilds - Level 3 Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy

Barnfield College
Luton
1987 - 1990

Skills

  • Highly motivated
  • Effective communicator
  • Experienced in quick wig changes
  • Barbering
  • Cutting and styling

Timeline

Deputy Head of WHAM swing

Cameron Mackintosh and Disney
04.2025 - Current

Deputy Head of Wigs

PGSM Super Live UK Ltd
02.2025 - 03.2025

Makeup Designer and Wigs supervisor, Scissorhands

Wild Park Entertainment
01.2025 - Current

Head of Wigs Hair and Makeup. Hairspray

Mark Goucher Productions
07.2024 - 01.2025

Head of Wigs Hair and Makeup, Unfortunate

Wild Park Entertainment
02.2024 - 07.2024

Head of wigs- Too Wong Foo the Musical

Hope Mill Theatre
10.2023 - 12.2023

Deputy Head of wigs

Hairspray
06.2023 - 08.2023

Barber and swing wig stylist

Neville Holt Opera
06.2023 - 06.2023

Unit Driver

The Rural Chauffeur
04.2023 - 04.2023

Deputy head of wigs

Peaky Blinders ,The Rise
01.2023 - 01.2023

Deputy Head of wigs

Peaky Blinders, The Rise
10.2022 - 11.2022

PGCE - Education and training

Huddersfield University
09.2022 - 09.2023

Barber

Neville Holt Opera
07.2022 - 07.2022

Trainee Make-up Artist

Firebrand
05.2022 - 05.2022

Unit Driver

The rural Chauffeur, Firebrand
04.2022 - 06.2022

Unit driver

The Rural Chauffeur
08.2021 - 01.2022

Bachelor of Arts - Media Make-up, Special effects and Hair design

York College
09.2019 - 06.2022

Posh Nailz
11.2016 - 03.2020

QCF Cert in Education & training. QCF Cert in Assessing Vocational Achievement - Education, Training and assessing

Posh Nailz
03.2016 - 05.2016

Make-up Artist

Blake Allen Productions
07.2002 - 01.2020

Mobile & Salon Beauty Therapist and Hairdresser

Self Employed
01.1998 - Current

7 Day intensive wig making course

WHAM

ITEC and City & Guilds - Level 3 Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy

Barnfield College
1987 - 1990
Nicola Jane Thorp