Biography
Since graduating from Guildford School of Acting with the Principal's Award for Musical Theatre and the Maragaret Veale Award for Singing, Ashleigh has gone on to establish herself as one of the UK's finest leading ladies.
Ashleigh is soon to finish playing the role of Raquel Turner in the record breaking run of Only Fools and Horses, the Musical, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London's West End. This hit show, heralded 'London's Funniest Show', is based on the iconic British sitcom of the same name with the stage adaptation written by Jim Sullivan and Paul Whitehouse. Prior to that, Ashleigh played the role of Jennifer Lore in Nativity, the Musical, based on the hit British film, by Debbie Isitt.
As well as her extensive work in the Theatre, Ashleigh has never shied away from other genres, most notably Concert and Recording. She supported Susan Boyle on her first ever Concert Tour, having first worked with Susan when she played Lorraine Campbell (Susan's best friend) in the World Premier of I Dreamed A Dream, the Susan Boyle Musical. Ashleigh was also approached by John Barrowman to record a duet with him for his latest Album, You Raise Me Up. Their version of the Simon and Garfunkel classic, Bridge Over Troubled Water, has received great acclaim.
However, Ashleigh is probably best known for her portrayal of the green skinned Elphaba, in the hit musical, Wicked. Her long standing affiliation with the show has seen Ashleigh play the Wicked Witch in both the West End and regionally, when she led the UK Touring cast of the production.
Ashleigh created the role of Stephanie Zinone in Cool Rider, a stage show based on the cult 80's film sequel, Grease 2. After a sell out one night performance at the Lyric theatre in the West End, the show later transferred to the Duchess theatre for a longer run, where Ashleigh's portrayal of Stephanie, the role iconically played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the original movie, continued to receive rave reviews.
Other Theatre credits include: Kathy in the European Premier of Jack Heifner and David Kirshenbaum's Vanities the Musical, (West End); Amy in Stephen Sondheim's Company (AAC); Martha in The Secret Garden (UK Tour); Kim in Taboo (UK Tour); Miss Lynch in Grease (UK Tour); Amanda in After The Turn (Courtyard Theatre, London); Kirsty in Terry Pratchett's Only You Can Save Mankind (Edinburgh Pleasance); Emily in Myths and Hymns (Finborough Theatre, London); Administrator in NHS The Musical (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); Marion in Robin Hood (Castle Theatre, Wellingborough) and Miranda in Betwixt! (West End), for which she was nominated for numerous awards. For Qdos, Ashleigh has appeared in various pantomimes across the country, playing opposite the likes of John Barrowman, Shane Richie and The Krankies.
Television credits include: The Hotel Nurse in Julia Davis' BAFTA Award Winning comedy, Sally4ever; Tina Woodward in Doctors for the BBC; Desperately Seeking Subo and There's Something About Susan for STV. Ashleigh also featured as a lead vocalist on an advert campaign for Admiral Multicar and played Kate in the Buddy Campaign for First Direct Bank.
As well as guest appearances in The West End Men (West End & UK Tour); Momentous Musicals (UK Tour); Susan Boyle in Concert (Scottish Tour) and Lee Mead and Friends (Pheasantry), other credits in the include: You Raise Me Up with John Barrowman (London Palladium); An evening with Ashleigh Gray and Scott Alan (Hippodrome); From Broadway to Bluegrass, with Ramin Karimloo (Union Chapel); Andrew Lippa in Concert (St James' Theatre); Dress Circle Benefit (Her Majesty's Theatre); First Thing's Last, the music of Lance Horne (Garrick Theatre); The Songs of Bobby Cronin (New Player's Theatre); West End and Hollywood Favourites (Queens Theatre); Broadway to West End - by special arrangement (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Christmas in New York (Lyric & Prince of Wales Theatres) and Scott Alan Live (IngigO2).
Ashleigh has also appeared with the BBC Concert Orchestra on Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2) and with the Hallé Orchestra at Concert by the Lake and Pops: Songs from the Shows and It's Showtime, at Tatton Park & Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, respectively
Also for Radio, Ashleigh played Nicola in In 2 Minds, a radio play for the Audio Adventures in Time and Space series. She also regularly presents her own show, Musicality with Ashleigh Gray, for Black Diamond FM across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Recording credits as a featured artist include: Bridge Over Troubled Water with John Barrowman (Barrowman/Barker Productions); Cast Recording of Cool Rider (Drury & Clegg); Cast recording of Muted (Interval Productions); Overture with Dan and Laura Curtis (Stacy Swain Productions); West End Unplugged (Parralel Productions); The Journey Home with Mark Evans (Sain Records); Surrounded by the Sounds (Tim Prottey Jones); Acoustic Overtures - The Songs of Dougal Irvine and Stand Tall, a New Rock Musical (both for SimG Productions); Unwritten Songs - The Songs of Michael Bruce and Christmas in New York (both for SpEckulation Entertainment) and Sentimental Heart with Oliver Tompsett (Avenue West Records).