Shanay Holmes is starring as Nancy in the West End revival of Oliver!.

The new production has been reconceived by Cameron Mackintosh, with direction and choreography by Matthew Bourne and co-direction by Jean-Pierre van der Spuy. Shanay opened with the show last summer at Chichester Festival Theatre before transferring to the Gielgud Theatre in London where Oliver! continues to play.

Shanay recently played Ellen in Miss Saigon (Sheffield Theatres) and created the role of Cindy Breakspeare in Get Up Stand Up! (Lyric Theatre).

After making her professional debut in Thriller Live (Lyric Theatre), Shanay went on to become the youngest person to ever play Rachael Maron in The Bodyguard (Adelphi Theatre). Her theatre credits also include: Close To You (Criterion Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Air Theatre), Joanne in the 20th anniversary production of Rent (UK Tour/The Other Palace), Glinda in The Wizard of Oz (Birmingham Rep), Narrator in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Kilworth House), Marian in The Bridges of Madison County (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Laura in High Fidelity (Turbine Theatre).

Alongside her performing career, Shanay is a producer and the co-founder of West End Musical Productions. Shanay and her husband Chris Steward are the masterminds, creators and producers of Musical Con, the world's biggest musical theatre fan convention. Musical Con returns for a fourth time this October at the ExCeL Centre. They also produce West End Musical Brunch, a plethora of West End Musical concerts and a variety of other projects.

Shaney originally did the third episode of this podcast and has co-hosted The West End Frame Show a couple of times, but this is her first time back In The Frame for six years!

In this episode, Shanay takes a deep dive into her journey with Oliver!; she reflects on how she has tackled such an iconic role and made it her own. She also discusses what plans are bubbling away for Musical Con and reflects on the path of her career over the past few years (and lots more pops up along the way!).

Olivier! runs at the Gielgud Theatre. Visit www.oliverthemusical.com for info and tickets.

Musical Con returns to the ExCeL Centre 18th-19th October 2025. Visit www.musicalcon.co.uk for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins

@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Omakinwa is playing Mrs Neilsen in Girl from the North Country.

Written and directed by Conor McPherson with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan, the Olivier Award winning show has returned to the Old Vic for another run. Maria is no stranger to Girl from the North Country, having previously performed in the West End production and UK tour.

Maria has worked at the Old Vic previously, appearing in A Christmas Carol and Sylvia. Her theatre credits include Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (West End/Theatre Royal Sydney), Show Boat, The Bodyguard and Avenue Q (West End), A Monster Calls and Soul Sister (UK Tour), One Love: The Bob Marley Musical (Birmingham Rep), Grimm Tales for Young and Old (Bargehouse) and Little Shop of Horrors (Kilworth House Theatre). Maria also appeared in the film adaptation of Matilda The Musical (Netflix).

In this episode Maria discusses her history with Girl from the North Country and what makes it such a special piece to perform. She also talks about her journey into theatre and some of the shows she has been in along the way.

Girl from the North Country runs at the Old Vic until 23rd August. Visit www.oldvictheatre.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins

@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aaron Lee Lambert is playing Agustín Magaldi in Jamie Lloyd’s West End revival of Evita.

Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Evita is running at the London Palladium starring Rachel Zegler as Eva Peron.

Aaron worked with Jamie Lloyd ten years ago when he was in the UK premiere of Urinetown at the Other Palace and Apollo Theatre. He was part of the original West End cast of Hamilton in 2017 as a standby for several of the Principal roles, and stayed with the show until earlier this year marking a seven-and-a-half year run.

Some of Aaron's other theatre credits include: Unicorn (Other Palace), Sister Act (Curve Leicester/UK Tour), Sunset Boulevard (London Coliseum), Miss Saigon (Prince Edward), Sweeney Todd (London Coliseum), Sister Act (Aberystwyth Arts), Next Thing You Know (Landor), Shrek (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Sister Act (London Palladium), Show Boat (Carnegie Hall), Meet John Doe (Goodspeed Opera House) and But the Giraffe/Brundibar (Yale Rep/New Victory, Off-Broadway).

Recorded as Evita previews came to an end ahead of press night, in this episode Aaron reflects on returning to work with Jamie Lloyd, the rehearsal process and what it’s been like to share the stage with Rachel Zegler. He also discusses his seven journey in Hamilton and the path of his career in musical theatre.

Evita runs at the London Palladium until 6th September 2025. Visit www.evitathemusical.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins

@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.