Following acclaimed performances as Nancy in Oliver! and Miss Sherman in Fame the Musical, SHANAY HOLMES has released her debut studio album, ‘BECOMING’ today (16 October 2026).
Featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and produced by Steve Anderson (Westlife), the album reimagines 11 musical theatre classics alongside an original title track written by Holmes herself. Exploring resilience, belonging and finding purpose through adversity, it reflects her own journey as a Black British woman shaping her place within the industry.
Holmes’ career spans 15 years in the West End and major regional venues. Her other theatre credits include Miss Saigon (Ellen, Sheffield Theatres); Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Cindy Breakspeare); The Bridges of Madison County (Marian, Menier Chocolate Factory); The Wizard of Oz (Glinda, Birmingham Rep); RENT – 20th Anniversary (Joanne Jefferson); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator); The Bodyguard Musical (Rachel Marron); and Thriller Live (Female Lead Singer). Her portrayal of Nancy in Oliver! at the Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End earned her the Black British Theatre Award for Best Female Lead Actor in a Musical.
Holmes is also the co-founder of Musical Con, the world’s largest musical theatre fan convention, which returns this weekend, as well as the much-loved West End Musical Brunch.
In addition she has co-produced West End productions of important contemporary works including When Black Boys Consider Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy and Retrograde.
Here Shanay continues Musical Theatre Review’s interview series: Five Questions With…
Your debut album, BECOMING, brings together 11 reimagined musical theatre classics alongside an original title track. What was the inspiration behind the album, and how did you decide which songs would tell the story you wanted to share?
I have spent 15 years playing other characters and now I feel ready to fully step into who I am as an artist in my own right. This whole album is about who I am and what I want to say to the world. I also wanted to push myself beyond what I’ve ever done. I wanted to perform and interpret what I consider some of the hardest songs in the world and express them to their absolute fullest. It has been a huge undertaking but one that I am immensely proud of.
BECOMING explores themes including resilience, belonging, hope and finding purpose through adversity. How much of your own journey has found its way into the album. Was making the recording a cathartic experience?
Massively. Every song chosen on the album is one that makes me think and feel deeply. Makes me understand life a little more but mostly each song has a theme of hope. Hope is so important, it asks us to choose love and life no matter how hurt or mistreated. I think it’s the one human thing that collectively we need to hold on to now.
You’ve brought together some remarkable musical talent for the album, including producer Steve Anderson and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. What was it like hearing these songs transformed into such a rich, orchestral sound.
It’s incredible. Most of these songs have never been heard on a scale like this. To hear these huge cinematic reimagined classic really is amazing. I really believe we have managed to make a lot of the iconic songs on the album feel like instant modern classics.
You’re also the co-founder and producer of Musical Con, which has grown into the world’s largest musical theatre fan convention, celebrating five years in 2026. What inspired you to create Musical Con, and what have you learned about building an event – and a community – around a shared love of musical theatre?
I have learned a huge amount about what it is to be in service to your community. It’s an incredible rewarding thing but it also doesn’t come without its challenges. I think what makes someone truly great as an entrepreneur is having a vision and a passion for the thing you wish to create and going for it without over thinking or second guessing yourself. You must have a belief in yourself and listen to your instincts. We created the event so that people could connect and celebrate each other through one shared love – musical theatre. We wanted to create a safe space, a place that felt like home and I think we’ve achieved that for many people.
Looking back over your incredible career so far – Miss Saigon, The Bodyguard, Get Up, Stand Up!, Oliver!, Fame and much more – as well as your work as a producer and entrepreneur, how has your definition of success changed, and what does ‘forging a career on your own terms’ mean to you now?
The definition has changed massively. I think we create an idea of what “success” is and then once we see it for everything it is we realise that real true success is safety, family, health and love. I also believe the love you have for yourself is so important, it can make or break a person. If you don’t love yourself then no amount of “success” will ever make you feel enough, no amount of money or fame. But if you do, then no amount of money or fame or lack thereof can alter your own self-worth and the joy you get from experiencing life.
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