Rosemary Ashe


Rosemary Elizabeth Ashe is an English stage actress and singer.

Early life and training

She was born to Philip Stephen Ashe and Dorothy May. She attended Lowestoft Grammar School before studying at the Royal Academy of Music.

Career

Her wealth of theatre roles include Carlotta in the original cast of The Phantom of the Opera, Madame Thenardier in Les Misérables, Widow Corney in Oliver!, Hortense in The Boy Friend, Forbidden Broadway, Felicia Gabriel in The [Witches of Eastwick (musical)|The Witches of Eastwick], Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins, Lottie Grady in When We Are Married, and Grandma Mole in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾. Also:Call Me Merman, Betty in The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Miss Bleacher in Crush, Kate Hoey MP in Committee, Tonight at 8.30, and The Old Lady in Candide.
She has appeared with English National Opera, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Sadlers Wells Opera, Opera Northern Ireland and Carl Rosa in many different roles; including Musetta in La bohème, Helene in La belle Hélène, Frasquita in Carmen and Despina in Così fan tutte. Television and radio appearances include: Doctors, An Audience With Ronnie Corbett, The House of Eliott, Cosi Fan Tutte, The Beggar's Opera and Friday Night is Music Night, Songs From the Shows and In Tune.
She has taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Royal Academy of Music, Guildford School of Acting, Arts Educational Schools, Musical Theatre Academy and London School of Musical Theatre.

Awards and nominations

Ashe received an Olivier Award nomination, for 'Best Supporting Performance in a Musical' in 2001 for her role in The Witches of Eastwick.

Recordings

In 2004, she recorded a song for the CD Weird & Wonderful – A Collection of Songs by Alexander S. Bermange celebrating weirdos and weirdness, featuring sixteen West End stars.
She can be heard on the cast recordings of The Phantom of the Opera, The Boy Friend, Bitter Sweet, Kismet, The Student Prince, Song of Norway, Oliver, The Killer Soprano, The Witches of Eastwick, Serious Cabaret, and Mary Poppins amongst others.