From South Africa to West End 'Fanny Brice' with Ashleigh Harvey

From growing up in South Africa during apartheid to performing on stages across the UK, Ashleigh Harvey shares why art has the power to heal, unite and remind us of our shared humanity.

In this episode, we jazz things up with Ashleigh Harvey - a South African-born actor, singer, voice artist and writer who has built an inspiring career on the UK stage. From starring in Funny Girl, Come From Away and Mamma Mia! to touring the UK in Fawlty Towers – The Play, Ashleigh brings extraordinary warmth, authenticity and heart to every performance. After growing up during the final years of apartheid in South Africa, Ashleigh witnessed first-hand how storytelling, theatre and music helped people make sense of difficult times. Today, whether she’s making audiences laugh, cry or simply forget the worries of the world for a few hours, she believes artists have an extraordinary responsibility and privilege to bring people together through shared human experiences. In this episode, persistence opens door and empathy keeps them open… * How Ashleigh knew from childhood that performing wasn’t just a dream - it was her calling * Why it took courage to leave South Africa and pursue her career in London’s competitive theatre industry * The persistence that landed her the lead role in Funny Girl after initially not even being invited to audition * Why Come From Away remains one of the most powerful examples of humanity, kindness and compassion on stage * How theatre creates a shared experience that reminds us we are far more alike than different * Why artists play a vital role in helping society process difficult moments through laughter, music and storytelling * The realities of building a sustainable career as a performer—and why success often comes from resilience, continuous learning and never giving up * Why kindness, empathy and listening to one another may be exactly what the world needs right now Together, Cindy and Ashleigh explore courage, creativity, resilience and the remarkable power of theatre to heal, inspire and reconnect us with our shared humanity. Connect with Ashleigh * Instagram * Spotlight * Youtube Applause-Worthy Moments “If you’ve got the bug, you’ve got the bug. It’s actually not a choice.” “It kind of chooses you, not the other way around.” “The soul nourishment is outstanding.” “The real truth of what’s going on in society is often told through art.” “Theatre reconnects you to your humanity.” “We all have to remember that we can just be kind.” Next in the Spotlight! We are super jazzed you joined us for another episode of Bringing Broadway to France: Bridging Humanity, One Story at a Time. Next week, you will meet Scott Harrah, who dishes on dishes on Broadway's power to bring people together, the stories that shape our humanity and why theatre still matters more than ever. If this podcast inspired you, we invite you to join us on Substack. Subscribe for free to stay in the loop, or upgrade to a paid subscription to unlock exclusive content and personalized song dedications — while directly supporting production costs and my incredible team as we continue bringing you meaningful conversations with extraordinary artists from around the world.

All levels of support mean everything. Thank you for being here. With love, sparkles and gratitude,Cindy and my amazing team (Ieva, Marj, and Ann) P.S. For Artists, Creatives & Speakers Artists, Creatives & Speakers: Learn how to monetize your work and land bookings with our free video and workbook. P.P.S. For Business Leaders Business Leaders: Learn how to Speak From Your Power® without pushing, performing, or proving.

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