Shanay Holmes is an award-winning performer and dynamic creative force in British theatre. Celebrated for her Black British Theatre Award–winning portrayal of Nancy in Oliver!, she brought raw honesty and emotional depth to the role, drawing from her own life experiences to illuminate themes of survival, abuse, and courage. Her disciplined approach, treating each performance like an emotional and vocal marathon, allowed her to reimagine Nancy with a truthfulness that resonated deeply with audiences.
Beyond the stage, Shanay is a visionary entrepreneur. Inspired by seeing her younger brother find community at a fan convention, she co-founded MusicalCon, now a landmark event uniting musical theatre fans from around the world. Through MusicalCon and West End Brunch, she has built joyful, inclusive spaces that bring people together and strengthen the theatre community.
Balancing major roles with her entrepreneurial ventures is challenging, but with her husband and co-founder, Chris Steward, she continues to grow platforms that spark connection and creativity. Shanay remains committed to pushing boundaries, challenging perceptions, and opening doors for Black and mixed-race women in the entertainment industry, creating the spaces she wants to see, and inspiring others to do the same.
Congratulations on winning the Black British Theatre Award for your portrayal of Nancy! What aspects of Nancy’s character resonated with you most deeply during the rehearsal process?
Thank you! So many. I had no idea just how much the character truly resonated with me. She is a woman who pours herself into everyone and everything around her and is a survivor. She learns to survive in a time and place that are not kind to her, and no matter what life throws her way or how wronged she has been, she still finds the courage to do the right thing, and I think that is something so many women have had to face. To choose to do the right thing despite yourself is true bravery. I poured all of my life experience into her.
Nancy is such an emotionally rich role. How did you prepare vocally, physically, and mentally to take on her journey each night on the West End stage?
I really wanted to connect as deeply as possible with the character, and to achieve that, eight shows a week are challenging. You become a vocal athlete. You train a certain way, eat a certain way, and sleep a certain way. You give yourself the challenge nightly to live as richly and as deeply in the given set of circumstances as you can. You must be very disciplined.
Many audiences praised your unique interpretation of Nancy. What parts of the character did you most want to reimagine or highlight in your performance?
I wanted her to be as truthful as possible. Domestic abuse is still a massive issue in our society. Poverty is still a huge issue in our society. I wanted to give her depth and honesty, and for people to be moved and to go away talking about the problems raised in the piece. That is why art is so influential. I wanted the audience to understand that abuse is not just physical, but also to understand a little more about the psychological aspect of abuse, which can often be more harmful. To do that, you must be able to be incredibly vulnerable on stage.
Playing Nancy requires incredible emotional stamina. Was there a particular moment in the show that challenged you the most, and how did you navigate it?
Absolutely. As Long As He Needs Me was the most challenging. It is such a beautiful song, and the audience knows it so well. The challenge was how to get the audience to hear it like it’s the first time? I wanted the audience to understand that this song is all about the rationalisations she has to tell herself to stay, so that even if they disagree with her choice, they could understand it. To navigate that is not easy, however, when you have given yourself over to something so entirely, nothing is left; it's all left there on the stage.
You’re not only a phenomenal performer but also a powerhouse business innovator. What initially inspired you to co-found MusicalCon, and how did you envision it impacting the theatre community?
I was inspired by my younger brother, who asked me to take him to a Star Wars Fan convention. I did so happily, and it was the first time I’d been to the Excel. That day I saw my brother become fully empowered, he felt so at home there, he had found his “tribe”, like-minded people all celebrating the same thing, and more importantly, fully seeing and celebrating each other. It was terrific, and I thought “Wow! Why don’t we have this for musical theatre fans?”
Musical Con has quickly become a beloved landmark event for fans and performers alike. What has been the most rewarding part of watching the convention grow?
The people. The community brings people from all over the world together. People who have become best friends from meeting at Musical Con make me so very proud. We don’t have a lot of things in the world that are built solely with the intention of creating joy and unity, so to see the community brought together year after year is something I am incredibly proud of.
As the co-founder of West End Brunch and MusicalCon, how do you balance your entrepreneurial ventures with your performing career - especially while taking on significant roles like Nancy?
It is very hard. I have a great relationship with my husband and co-founder, Chris Steward. He is my rock, and when I can’t take too much on, Chris takes over, and it is amazing that balance. To have someone in life who can fully support your dreams whilst also working on growing and creating our shared dream is just beautiful. Hard work but beautiful.
Looking ahead, what conversations or changes do you hope to continue championing within the musical theatre industry through both your artistry and your business platforms?
I’d like to continue breaking down any preconceived ideas about what women, especially black and mixed-race women, are capable of achieving within the entertainment industry. I would like to keep pushing the boundaries, taking space, but most importantly creating the spaces that I’d like to be in and continue to do the impossible.
Oliver! is showing at the Gielgud Theatre in London from the 14th of December.