If you're the kind of parent who likes to have the good stuff sorted well before December arrives in a blur of school concerts and forgotten costume requests, here's your cue. Rapunzel is coming to Dublin city centre this Christmas, and it sounds like exactly the sort of outing that will actually get the whole family out the door with smiles on their faces.
Presented by Showbiz Productions and The Ambassador Theatre, Rapunzel will run at The Ambassador Theatre on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1, from 22 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. That puts it bang in the middle of the school holidays, which means no early-morning alarm panic and no one complaining they're tired before the show even starts.
A proper Dublin city panto
There's something genuinely lovely about a panto set right in the heart of the capital. The Ambassador Theatre sits on O'Connell Street with the Spire practically on its doorstep — which the producers couldn't resist pointing out is the perfect spot for Rapunzel's tower to rise. Fair point, really.
The theatre itself has a brilliant history. It was Dublin's longest-running cinema before becoming one of the city's most beloved music venues. Now it's stepping into festive family territory, and honestly it feels like a natural fit. There's something about a venue with that much character that makes a panto feel like a proper event rather than just a way to fill an afternoon.
Starring as Rapunzel is Nicole Filan, a young performer from Sligo with an impressive stage CV already behind her. She's performed in productions of All Shook Up and Little Shop of Horrors, danced with Beat It Dance School for years and is currently studying at DCU. She said of the role: "I am so excited to play Rapunzel at The Ambassador Theatre this December. It is a dream come true for me. I have always loved singing, dancing and acting, and to bring Rapunzel to life in the heart of Dublin this Christmas is really special."
The team behind the magic
The production is the work of Andrea Kavanagh of The Showbiz Academy, a woman who has spent her career putting young performers on stage and screen. She founded the Academy in 2014 and also examines for the Irish Board of Speech and Drama. She's clearly someone who takes the craft seriously, which bodes well for the quality of the show.
Andrea said: "I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity to be involved in something truly magical. With a fantastic creative team and an incredibly talented cast by my side, I cannot wait to bring Rapunzel to life on the stage of the beautiful, historic Ambassador Theatre in the heart of Dublin's Fairytale City."
Audiences can expect all the panto essentials — big songs, bold characters, plenty of laughs and loads of audience participation. The kind of show where kids roar "he's behind you!" until they're hoarse and parents find themselves genuinely entertained despite their best efforts to stay cool about it.
Tickets, times and everything you need to know
The show runs across the Christmas and New Year school holidays, with performances from 22 December right through to 10 January 2027. There are no performances on Christmas Day or St Stephen's Day, so those days are your own. Multiple time slots are available across the run, with matinée and evening shows on most days.
Tickets are priced at €32.50 per person or €115 for a family of four (including booking fee and facility fee). There is a 12.5% service charge per ticket, capped at €10.50. Given the location — a short walk from shops, restaurants and Luas stops — it's easy to make a full day of it in town.
Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.ie. Worth booking sooner rather than later — the school holiday dates tend to fill up quickly, and this is exactly the kind of thing you'll be delighted you sorted in July rather than scrambling for in December.
