In 2004, Gray made her professional début as Kim in the UK national tour of the
Boy George musical
Taboo. She was also a soloist in the concert
Notes from New York. Prior to this she played the role of Kirsty in
Only You Can Save Mankind at the
Edinburgh Festival. In 2006, she appeared in
NHS the Musical at the
Drum Theatre Plymouth and covered Rizzo and Jan in the UK national tour of
Grease. In 2007, Gray performed the role of Emily in the European première of
Myths and Hymns and again that year at the
Finborough theatre. On 16 July 2007, she joined the London company of the musical
Wicked at the
Apollo Victoria Theatre, where she performed in the ensemble, performing primarily as Glinda's friend at university Pfanee. She also understudied the role of Elphaba. She played her first performance as the not-so-wicked witch 6 February 2008. She then became Elphaba standby from 9 June 2008, replacing
Cassidy Janson. After a lengthy run in the show, she departed at cast change on 27 March 2010, with her final appearance as Elphaba on 12 March. She was replaced by Nikki Davis-Jones. Soon enough, Ashleigh made a special one-night return to the role for the evening performance of 28 October 2010, due to the indisposition of all the current Elphaba's at the time. She then became the emergency cover Elphaba, for the 18 February 2011 performance, in which Davis-Jones, Gray's replacement, left mid-first act due to illness, and the current understudy was not rehearsed. Gray has also been part of the
Notes From New York series including shows at the Trafalgar studios. On 9 December 2007 she also appeared in the Christmas version of the show
Christmas in New York, at the
Lyric Theatre, singing alongside her Wicked co-star
Oliver Tompsett,
Julie Atherton and
Rachael Wooding. Gray's songs included
Grown up Christmas List and
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas with
Oliver Tompsett. Along with stage musicals, Gray has worked with Oliver Tompsett on his debut album,
Sentimental Heart, for which she recorded a duet with him. On 26 September 2010 Gray joined composer Scott Alan at his concert " Simply The Music of Scott Alan" in London's West End. The concert also featured
Louise Dearman,
Patina Miller,
Sierra Boggess, Jodie Jacobs, Alex Gaumond and Hadley Fraser. Gray performed the song "Please Don't Let Me Go". On 25 April 2011, Gray hosted her first solo cabaret "Easter With Ashleigh Gray". In which she performed a host of songs from her career, new songs written for her and some of her personal favourite songs. In the summer of 2011 she took part in a workshop and reading of the musical "Girlfriends" by
Laurence Mark Wythe. In the summer of 2011 Gray played Miranda in
Betwixt! at Trafalgar Studios, a role for which she received several nominations for Best Actress in a Musical. Gray originated the role of Lorraine Campbell in 'I Dreamed A Dream' the
Susan Boyle Musical which toured the UK and Ireland in 2012. Recent credits include The West End Men alongside
Lee Mead,
Ramin Karimloo and Stephen Rahman Hughes. Momentous Musicals alongside
John Owen-Jones and
Gareth Gates. Gray is currently rehearsing for a UK concert tour of The Secret Garden. As of 21 October 2013, Gray returned to the West End company of
Wicked as the standby for
Elphaba. She was replaced by
Emma Hatton on 2 December. As of 3 March 2014, Gray returned once again to provide emergency cover as the standby for Elphaba for three weeks. Gray joined a West End Repertory Cast to present three brand new musicals as part of the 'From Page to Stage' Season at the Landor Theatre from 25 to 27 February 2014. Gray played the role of Wanda in
Van Winkle - a folk musical. Gray performed two songs, "Watching The Door" and "I'm Home". Following its one-off performance at the Lyric Theatre on Monday 27 January 2014, Cool Rider Live returned to the West End for one week at the Duchess Theatre (15–19 April 2014). Gray once again led the cast as Stephanie in this Cult Musical sequel. The show received multiple 4 and 5-star reviews on Press Night. Gray and John Barrowman recorded a duet "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on his latest album
You Raise Me Up which was released towards the end of June 2014. On 16 September 2014, Gray took over lead as Elphaba in
Wicked (UK tour) replacing Nikki Davis-Jones. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Cool Rider Live released an Original Cast Recording on 29 June 2015 Gray recorded the title track 'Cool Rider' on 28 April 2015. In January 2016, the Cool Rider LP (Vinyl) was released and is available directly from the Cool Rider Live website ==Musicals==