Birmingham student’s career soars after fears Covid killed her stage dream

Covid lockdowns as a student in Birmingham were especially hard for Ashleigh Schuman as theatres were shut down with talk of them never reopening. For Ashleigh, it was more than just the isolation and lectures online, she thought her dreams of becoming a stage actress were over.

The Philosophy student at University of Birmingham in Edgbaston didn’t even get the chance to experience The Alexandra theatre as it was forced to close its doors soon after she arrived in Brum.

Yet in a twist of fate, despite never getting to watch a show at The Alex, Ashleigh is now on its stage, performing in an Olivier Award-winning hit musical that gets standing ovations night after night.

Never giving up on her acting dream, the 24-year-old has seen her determination pay off as she has landed a coveted part in one of her first major theatre roles. Even better, it’s her favourite musical of all time.

Ashleigh, who graduated in 2022, is back in Birmingham starring at The Alexandra theatre in acclaimed Fiddler On The Roof over the Christmas holidays. She plays one of the younger daughters, Shprintze, in its UK tour, that runs until January 3. She’s even the cover for two of the lead roles of the other daughters Hodel and Chava.

“I spent most of my time at uni doing all the classes online and showcases over Zoom,” recalled Ashleigh. “I never even got to see anything at The Alexandra because it was closed down, which was so disappointing.

“There was talk at the time about whether theatres would ever get back to normal. There I was thinking my career was null and void. It was a crazy time.

“In the end, I had to go home, back to London.”

After graduating from Birmingham University in 2022, Ashleigh landed a place at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London a year later. Fresh from there, she’s done minor roles but Fiddler On The Roof is her first major tour.

“This is a dream role for me and my first big role since graduating,” added Ashleigh. “Coming to Birmingham and now getting to finally be inside The Alexandra is quite emotional for me, but I’m loving having the chance to perform here.

“I’d always hoped that everything would come back eventually after Covid. I just kept hoping.”

Fiddler On The Roof is a meaningful musical with family and love at its heart along with timeless, catchy songs including If I Were A Rich Man, Matchmaker, Tradition and Sunrise, Sunset. Read the review of Fiddler On The Roof UK Tour here.

It’s an endearing often comedic tale about a likeable dad forced to rethink his community’s traditions to allow his three daughters to follow their hearts. The romance is set amidst a backdrop of Jewish villagers being persecuted by the Russian Tsar and reminds us all, especially at Christmas, about the importance of acceptance and how much we all have in common, whatever faith or nationality.

Ashleigh said: “The message in this musical is important and really meaningful, but there’s also a lot of humour and hilarious moments in it. There’s a lot of romance with women and daughters at the forefront of the story and family is at the heart of the show.

“We’ve been getting standing ovations every night and I feel that the audience is really responding and connecting to it.”

For the girl that once feared the covid pandemic had quashed her dreams, the future looks bright.

Fiddler On The Roof runs at The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham until January 3. Tickets start from £29.