Ashley Zhangazha read Economics and Politics at the University of Manchester. He was a member of the National Youth Theatre and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Classical roles while training included Edmund in King Lear in a production directed by Richard Twyman. Zhanghaza won the Ian Charleson Award in 2013 for his performance as Ross in Macbeth. He had previously received an Ian Charleson commendation for his work as the King of France in King Lear. His non-Shakespearean professional work has included Jaffier in Venice Preserv'd at the Spectators Guild (2014) and Legendre in Danton's Death at the National Theatre (2010). He also played Cory in August Wilson's Fences directed by Paulette Randall with Lenny Henry.