Seasonal Gruffalo Character Actor + Merlin Pass

Job Position(s): Seasonal Gruffalo Character Actor + Merlin Pass

Merlin Entertainments is hiring a Seasonal Gruffalo Character Actor for its Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse attraction in Norwich, England. This role sits within live performance and interactive entertainment, with the actor delivering structured storytelling sessions and character appearances that bring Julia Donaldson’s picture book properties to life for young audiences. It suits a performer with stage or children’s theatre credits who is comfortable working inside a character suit and holding attention through physical performance rather than dialogue.

About the Role

The Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse operates as a ticketed live performance venue within Merlin Entertainments’ broader attractions portfolio, running scheduled shows across weekends and school holiday periods. A typical day involves multiple back-to-back performance slots in full character costume, with brief turnaround time between shows and direct audience interaction built into each session. This is a seasonal contract, with the heaviest scheduling falling across peak visitor periods.

Key Responsibilities

• Performing as the Gruffalo and associated characters across multiple daily shows, maintaining character integrity throughout each session.
• Delivering interactive storytelling performances calibrated for child audiences, adjusting energy and pacing to suit group size and age range.
• Working within a costumed character performance framework, including full-suit wear with restricted sightlines and limited mobility.
• Hitting consistent performance marks across repeated show slots without visible fatigue or loss of audience engagement.
• Collaborating with venue production staff on cues, staging, and show flow to maintain the integrity of the scripted live performance format.
• Meeting physical stamina requirements across a full performance day, including costume changes and cast assembly between shows.

What You Bring

• Prior credits in children’s theatre, live event performance, or character entertainment are directly relevant to this role.
• Physical fitness and the stamina to sustain high-energy performance across multiple daily shows in full costume.
• Experience with non-verbal physical performance or mime technique is a practical advantage in character suit work.
• A performance background in theatre, drama school training, or equivalent professional stage experience.

Why This Role

Merlin Entertainments operates one of the largest live attractions networks in the UK, and this role offers consistent performance work within a professionally run production environment. The position includes a Merlin pass and performance bonuses alongside the seasonal contract. For performers building credits in live character work or children’s entertainment, this is a well-structured engagement with a known operator.

Apply now for the Seasonal Gruffalo Character Actor position with Merlin Entertainments and bring one of children’s literature’s most recognised characters to life on stage.