Shanay Holmes, one of the West End’s most powerful and emotive voices, presents her first-ever solo concert at Cadogan Hall, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Following her critically acclaimed performance as Nancy in Oliver! – a role she originated and for which she won Best Female Lead in a Musical at the Black British Theatre Awards – she performs orchestral re-imaginings of musical theatre classics alongside the songs that have shaped her journey.

Despite Shanay's overwhelming influence in London's West End, yesterday evening marked her first solo concert, performed at the illustrious Cadogan Hall. Having not long finished her run as Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver!, what better time to showcase the versatility of her vocals in all of their glory than now?

From starring in a multitude of shows, Holmes is also responsible for the successes that are Musical Con, West End Does... concerts, as well as West End Musical Brunch. And with her debut solo concert, comes her debut album, Becoming, which is set for release on 16th October 2026.

The iconic Cadogan Hall is filled with the incredible sounds of the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and the evening is conducted by Chris Poon, who leads the orchestra with a magnetising ease. The two hour concert was dedicated to Shanay's love of musical theatre, and the songs that led her to where she is today. Any fan of Shanay's will know her from musicals such as, Oliver!, Get Up, Stand Up!, The Bodyguard, and Rent, but covers from her upcoming album were also interwoven into the setlist.

Holmes wowed the audience with jaw-dropping vocals from the very first note of the show, which she opened with "The Sound of Music", to the closing note of "Everything's Coming Up Roses", which marked the encore. There were so many personal highlights for me, with many of my favourite musicals being featured. From "Not While I'm Around" from Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, to "Somewhere" from West Side Story, to Disney's "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes", to Whitney's "I Will Always Love You", to Cabaret's "Maybe This Time". Every number seemed more emotionally charged and intense than the last, and her crystal clear vocals and emotional depth make her formidable in the world of the musical theatre.

While Holmes' vocal ability and ease can not be faulted, something needs to be said for the versatility of the song choices. Many songs were ballads and it didn't feel particularly varied, which made it seem a little repetitive at times; especially in tempo. The first act was full of emotional ballads and I was expecting after the interval for more upbeat, feel-good song choices, but the song choices were very much the same as act one. However, her voice is undoubtedly one of the best in the industry and seeing her tackle so many iconic musical theatre numbers with ease was an absolute joy.

While I personally would have liked a little more audience interaction, it was clear Shanay was incredibly nervous and she spoke vulnerably and from the heart the entire evening, which even made me quite emotional at times. The sincerity of just how much the evening meant to her shone through completely.

The standing ovation after her masterclass performance of "As Long As He Needs Me" was incredibly moving and served as a reminder as why she'll continue leading the world of musical theatre for years to come. You can catch Shanay Holmes in FAME at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 28th July 2026. Remember her name!

You can pre-order and pre-save Shanay's debut album, Becoming, here.

**photo credit: Michael Wharley**