Cliona Hagan is stepping into a striking new chapter, giving fans of entertainment news Ireland a festive headline with real stage sparkle. The country music favourite is trading her usual sound for sharp comedy and theatrical flair after being unveiled in a major role in this year’s Snow White pantomime at SETU Arena in Waterford.
The singer will play the villainous Queen Draganella in the Christmas production, marking a high-profile move from music into family theatre. It is a casting twist that adds fresh energy to Irish entertainment news, especially as seasonal live shows continue to grow into major crowd-pullers beyond Dublin.
Cliona Hagan takes centre stage in Waterford
The 2026 production of Snow White will run from December 12 to December 30 at SETU Arena, with matinee and evening performances planned across the festive season. Cliona Hagan joins a packed cast led by panto favourite Richie Hayes, who returns after the success of last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk.
According to the launch announcement, the cast includes:
- Cliona Hagan as Queen Draganella
- Richie Hayes as The Man in the Mirror
- Holly Ryan as Snow White
- Michael Sands as Dame Nanny Nora
- Evan O’Hanlon as the Prince
- Alex Kavanagh as The Spirit of the Panto
More than 80 young performers from across the South East are also expected to appear in the production, giving the show a strong local dimension that fits perfectly into wider entertainment updates Ireland audiences are increasingly following.
A bigger festive production after last year’s success
The return of the arena panto follows a standout 2025 run, when Jack and the Beanstalk drew close to 12,000 attendees. Organisers also said the production delivered an estimated economic boost of more than €950,000 for Waterford, underlining how important live performance has become within the entertainment industry Ireland landscape.
Richie Hayes described bringing the large-scale panto back to his hometown as a personal milestone. He said last year’s response proved there was a strong appetite for a major Christmas production in Waterford, with audiences travelling from across Ireland and overseas.
He also stressed that this year’s show is being built on everything learned from the previous production, promising more spectacle, more comedy and a more immersive festive experience for families.
Why this casting is turning heads
For fans of celebrity news Ireland and Irish music news, Cliona’s casting stands out because it shows another side to a performer best known for her country roots. Taking on a wicked queen role in a full-scale panto gives her room to lean into character, humour and audience interaction — three essentials of successful Christmas theatre.
It also speaks to a broader trend in pop culture Ireland, where singers and television personalities are increasingly crossing into stage work to reach new audiences. In that sense, this is not just a one-off casting headline; it is part of a wider shift in how stars build their entertainment profiles.
What to know before booking
If you are planning your entertainment news Ireland calendar for the festive season, here are the key details:
- Show: Snow White
- Venue: SETU Arena, Waterford
- Dates: December 12–30, 2026
- Performances: Matinee and evening shows
- Tickets: On sale now via the official panto booking site
For anyone looking for family entertainment Ireland options this Christmas, the production is shaping up as one of the standout live entertainment stories Ireland has to offer this season.
As entertainment news Ireland goes, this is the kind of festive casting reveal that instantly grabs attention: a familiar music star, a wicked new role and a hometown production aiming to go even bigger. Cliona Hagan’s transformation into Queen Draganella could be one of the season’s most talked-about turns on the Irish stage.
