Shanay Holmes

Shanay Holmes
Born
Shanay Patrice Holmes

(1989-01-18) 18 January 1989[1][2]
High Wycombe, England
Years active2009–present
SpouseChris Steward

Shanay Patrice Holmes (born 18 January 1989) is a British actor, singer and producer. She is best known for playing Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh' revival of Oliver!.[3][4]

Early life

Holmes was born in High Wycombe and grew up in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire. Holmes attended Amersham and Wycombe College.[5] At age fourteen, she joined a youth choir called Young Voices. She landed her first West End role in Thriller – Live.[6]

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".[7] In 2023, Holmes played Ellen in Miss Saigon at Sheffield Theatres; The Times described her as "volcanic" in the part.[8]

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.[9] In its review of the West End engagement, the Financial Times wrote that she "shines as Nancy".[3] The Stage praised her "sensual, heartbroken" portrayal and vocal power.[10] Another notice commended her work in Oom-Pah-Pah and As Long as He Needs Me.[11] Reviewing the production's Chichester run, The Times noted audience response to her performance.[12]

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.[13] In 2021 they won the Black British Theatre Award for Best Producer for their production "West End Musical Celebration at Palace Theatre".[14] Musical Theatre Review described it as an “expertly created and executed showcase”.[15] 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.[16]

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Thriller – Live Lyric Theatre, London
2014 The Bodyguard Ensemble Adelphi Theatre, London
2015 Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined Criterion Theatre, London
2016 Jesus Christ Superstar Ensemble Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London
2016 Rent Joanne Jefferson UK tour / The Other Palace, London
2018 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat Narrator Kilworth House, Leicestershire
2018 The Wizard of Oz Glinda / Aunt Em Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham
2019 The Bridges of Madison County Marian Menier Chocolate Factory, London
2019 High Fidelity Laura Turbine Theatre, London
2021 Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical Cindy Breakspeare Lyric Theatre, London
2023 Miss Saigon Ellen Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2025 Oliver! Nancy Chichester Festival Theatre / Gielgud Theatre, London

Awards

References

  1. ^ Shanay Holmes (18 January 2024). "It's Giving Birthday Spending today being grateful for every person who has held me up!". Retrieved 4 June 2025 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (25 April 2021). "Theatre newcomers get their chance to shine as London's West End reopens". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Raucous reimagined Oliver! is a West End must-see — review". Financial Times. 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  4. ^ Clapp, Susannah (2025-01-19). "The week in theatre: Oliver!; The Devil May Care review – consider yourself entertained". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  5. ^ Wareham, Stephanie (26 November 2016). "High Wycombe-born actress makes return to town as professional theatre star in RENT at the Wycombe Swan". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  6. ^ Kawashima, Dale. "Shanay Holmes' "I Can See You" Named December "Best Song Of The Month"". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  7. ^ Bosanquet, Theo (2021-10-20). "Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical". The Stage. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  8. ^ Davis, Clive (2025-10-02). "Miss Saigon review — who needs a helicopter, this is a hit". The Times. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  9. ^ Fullbrook, Danny (2025-01-11). "Oliver!: 'Nancy shows what women are capable of'". BBC. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  10. ^ "Oliver! review". The Stage. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  11. ^ Harvey, Eleanor (2024-08-31). "'Oliver!' – A Joyous Yet Touching Musical With Unbeatable Songs: Review". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  12. ^ Davies, Clive (2024-07-25). "Oliver! review — Matthew Bourne's revival is a jolly, comforting winner". The Times. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  13. ^ "Interview: Shanay Holmes, Nancy in Oliver!". West End Fame. 2025-07-11. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  14. ^ "The 2021 Black British Theatre Awards Winners". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  15. ^ "The Stage 25: Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward". The Stage. 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  16. ^ "The 2024 Black British Theatre Awards Winners". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  17. ^ Fullbrook, Danny (2025-10-29). "West End star: 'Representation makes all possible'". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
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