Shanay Holmes

Last updated
Shanay Holmes
Shanay Holmes.jpg
Born
Chesham, Buckinghamshire
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • producer

Shanay Holmes is a British actor, singer and producer best known for playing Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh' revival of Oliver! . [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Holmes was born in High Wycombe and grew up in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. At age fourteen, she joined a youth choir called Young Voices. She studied performing arts in college and landed her first West End role in Thriller – Live . [3]

Career

She played Cindy Breakspeare in 2021 in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical , in which The Stage described hers as a "stand out performance". [4] In 2023, Holmes played Ellen in Miss Saigon at Sheffield Theatres; The Times described her as "volcanic" in the part. [5]

Holmes starred as Nancy in the 2024 revival of Oliver! at the Chichester Festival Theatre and continued in the role when Oliver! transferred to London's Gielgud Theatre. [6] In its review of the West End engagement, the Financial Times wrote that she "shines as Nancy". [1] The Stage praised her "sensual, heartbroken" portrayal and vocal power. [7] Another notice commended her work in Oom-Pah-Pah and As Long as He Needs Me . [8] Reviewing the production's Chichester run, The Times noted audience response to her performance. [9]

Producing work

Holmes is a producer and co-founder of West End Musical Productions with her husband, Chris Steward. The couple produce Musical Con among their musical theatre projects. [10] In 2021 they won the Black British Theatre Award for Best Producer for their production "West End Musical Celebration at Palace Theatre". [11] Musical Theatre Review described it as an “expertly created and executed showcase”. [12] West End Musical Productions won the 2024 Michael Hastings, Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick award for outstanding work in the industry at the 2024 Black British Theatre Awards. [13]

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 "Raucous reimagined Oliver! is a West End must-see — review". Financial Times . 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  2. ↑ Clapp, Susannah (2025-01-19). "The week in theatre: Oliver!; The Devil May Care review – consider yourself entertained". The Guardian . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  3. ↑ Kawashima, Dale. "Shanay Holmes' "I Can See You" Named December "Best Song Of The Month"". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  4. ↑ Bosanquet, Theo (2021-10-20). "Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical". The Stage . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  5. ↑ Davis, Clive (2025-10-02). "Miss Saigon review — who needs a helicopter, this is a hit". The Times . Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  6. ↑ Fullbrook, Danny (2025-01-11). "Oliver!: 'Nancy shows what women are capable of'". BBC . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  7. ↑ "Oliver! review". The Stage . 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  8. ↑ Harvey, Eleanor (2024-08-31). "'Oliver!' – A Joyous Yet Touching Musical With Unbeatable Songs: Review". The Independent . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  9. ↑ Davies, Clive (2024-07-25). "Oliver! review — Matthew Bourne's revival is a jolly, comforting winner". The Times . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  10. ↑ "Interview: Shanay Holmes, Nancy in Oliver!". West End Fame. 2025-07-11. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  11. ↑ "The 2021 Black British Theatre Awards Winners". Black British Theatre Awards . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  12. ↑ "The Stage 25: Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward". The Stage . 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  13. ↑ "The 2024 Black British Theatre Awards Winners". Black British Theatre Awards . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
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