Content

The WinterBeast Ball is a brand new large-scale immersive Christmas experience at Hampton Court Palace, running from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Inspired by the Palace's own heraldic bestiary, the experience brings mythical Beasts to life across the Palace's iconic rooms and courtyards through live performance, puppetry, projection and live music.

Performers will work across a free-roam, non-linear experience, engaging one-to-one and in small groups with visitors of all ages, predominantly families. Characters are sustained across full performance days in a high-footfall, outdoor and indoor environment over the Christmas period.

We are looking for performers who thrive in this context: resilient, inventive, and genuinely comfortable with the unexpected.

All performers will be required to apply their own beast-style make-up. Tuition and training on the specific make-up application for each character will be provided during the rehearsal period.

Candidates with a current enhanced DBS certificate on the update service are strongly preferred.

All roles are open to performers of all ethnicities and backgrounds. We are committed to an inclusive cast that reflects the breadth of our audiences. ALL performers must be able to get to Hampton Court with ease as no relocation subs are offered.

Dates

Rehearsals will take place 17 to 26 November.

Performance days run 28 November to 3 January

Roles

Roles Details

Title

Seymour Panther

Content

Full Puppet animatronic costume non speaking character.

Seymour Panther, the Lord of Revels, is the true heart of the WinterBeast Ball and conductor of mischief, and merriment. Operating entirely without dialogue, this full-puppet animatronic costume character communicates solely through physicality. To captivate a room without words, the role requires masterful timing, deliberate gestures, stillness, and non-verbal command in every interaction.

We are looking for a performer with significant experience in full body costume performance or physical theatre. You will work in close proximity to visitors of all ages, including very young children. Your comic timing needs to be exceptional. Your stillness needs to be as powerful as your movement.

Previous experience in full-puppet costume performance is essential. Puppetry or physical theatre background is an advantage.

Key skills: Full body costume performance. Physical comedy. Crowd reading. Stamina.

Salary

Daily fee: £165.00 - £195.00, dependent on hours worked. The role of Seymour Panther is performed in shifts across the run, with three actors cast to share the schedule. Regular breaks are built into every working day to ensure performers are not fatigued. Shift patterns and hours will be confirmed on engagement. Rehearsals are paid at £195.00 per day for 6 days. The following dates are subject to confirmation and would be engaged at additional fees: 26 November 8 December

Age

18+