Originally from Blackburn, Lancashire, Shirley made her West End debut in Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre, playing The Madame and understudying and playing the role of Mme Thenardier on many occasions.
Other credits in the West End include My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, playing Lady Boxington and understudying and playing the role of Mrs Pearce.
National tours include My Fair Lady, Barnum, understudying and playing the dual role of Joyce Heth, The Blues Singer, 42nd Street playing the role of Maggie Jones and David Copperfield the Musical. Shirley was also Resident Director on the tours of both Barnum and 42nd Street.
Other work includes Jacqueline in La Cage Aux Folles (Opera House Manchester), The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (Palace Theatre Manchester), Woman 1 in the musical revue Closer Than Ever, Cinderella (Grand Theatre Blackpool) and Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Royal Bath).
As a featured soloist, Shirley has appeared at Centre Stage in London’s Covent Garden, Sunday in the Grand With Sondheim at the Grand Theatre Blackpool, Les Miscellaneous at the Woodville Halls, Dartford, and Les Misérables in Concert at the Odyssey Arena Belfast.
Maintaining the connection with Les Misérables, Shirley had the great honour of being part of the presentation of Les Misérables in Concert, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale at Windsor Castle, in the presence of The Queen and President Chirac, and just recently recorded the 21st birthday concert version of the show for Radio 2.
Aside from performing, Shirley was responsible for the co-adaptation of a new musical Robin and the Seven Hoods from the original Warner Brothers movie, with music by Sammy Cahn and James Van Hussen, which is scheduled to go into production soon, look out for it!
Shirley is looking forward to having the opportunity to repeat the role of Maggie Jones and working alongside the show’s author Mark Bramble. She is represented by Richard Howard Associates.
