EastEnders legend Michelle Collins has confirmed a new project away from the Square.
The star, who plays Cindy Beale on the BBC One soap, has been confirmed to make her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in the play Motorhome Marilyn, which will run at Edinburgh’s Doonstairs, Gilded Balloon Patter House, from July 30 until August 25.
“I am thrilled to be making my Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut with Motorhome Marilyn, a wonderful new play which is dark, funny and so close to my heart,” Collins said in a press release.
“When I encountered the show’s real-life namesake out in LA, I couldn’t have imagined that journey would lead me to this point. However, thanks to Ben [Weatherill]’s, and my late friend Stuart’s, wonderful writing, I can’t wait to share this story with Edinburgh audiences this summer.”
The play, inspired by a meeting Collins had in Los Angeles with a woman who went by Motorhome Marilyn, will see her play a character called Denise.
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Denise loves Marilyn Monroe and wants to become a famous actor just like the icon, but she soon finds out life isn’t quite as glamorous as she’d imagined as she struggles to make her dreams come true.
EastEnders fans will know that Cindy has been off-screen since the end of February after an explosive return to the soap in 2023. The character was part of a huge storyline over Christmas when her affair with George (her former husband)’s brother Junior was exposed in front of a packed Queen Vic.
She was then hit over the head with a shovel and left for dead by Kathy Beale/Cotton, before making an ominous exit from the Square after pushing her ex Ian Beale in front of a moving car.
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Cindy left the Square in her typical vindictive fashion, telling Junior: “Oh, no-one’s getting away with anything, but I’m just happy to let them think they have. For now…”
This week, Cindy’s son Peter attempted to get in touch with his mum for Mother’s Day but discovered she’d gone AWOL.
But with Collins now busy away from the soap, does that mean we won’t see Cindy back until the end of summer? Or will she be back with a vengeance much sooner?
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast. Tickets for Motorhome Marilyn are available here.
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