Michelle Collins on why her Miss Scarlett role in the new Cluedo play is her most 'physical' yet

Virgin Radio

14 Jan 2022, 12:20

The actress is bringing the board game character to life in the new production of Cluedo, and as she shared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky today, it’s the perfect antidote for whodunit fans after months of doom and gloom. 

Michelle is taking on the iconic role of Miss Scarlett in the play in its UK stage premiere and tour. Based on the 1985 film Clue and, of course, the classic game of the same name, this new stage production will kick-off proceedings in Bromley on the 24th. 

Joining her will be Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Reverend Green, Mrs. White and Colonel Mustard, who are surprised to find they have all received the same intriguing invitation from Lord Boddy. Those inside Boddy Manor are killed off one by one, with a variety of weapons, leaving everyone to wonder, who will be next?

Portraying Miss Scarlett was always on the bucket list according to Michelle, who said she ‘wanted to be Miss Scarlett’ but never had much chance to play the board game. Instead, Michelle revealed her mum tried to fill the board game void with something very different. 

She admitted: “I always thought Cluedo was a bit posh, in fact my mum…I remember once buying me a board game, and she didn't know what it was. She'd bought us a Ouija board, she came home and she's like ‘what are you doing?’”

Despite getting to know the character over the years, Michelle said it didn’t prepare her for just how much work it would be to play her in a real-life version of the whodunit game. 

The play is directed by Mark Bell, who was also at the helm of The Play That Goes Wrong, and the actress revealed the two are very alike. 

She added: “It's that kind of style so it's really heightened. It's very physical, more than I thought it was going to be.

“So it's very stylised, it's really phyical. We're not off stage the whole time, so in that sense it's quite exhausting. It's very different for me, I haven't ever done anything like this before.”

It’s come at a good time too, as Michelle reckons people are desperate for that type of drama following months of doom and gloom. 

Michelle explained: “Even if you're not a fan of the game, it’s still fun. In this current climate, I think people are really craving things like that. It's fun, and everyone can go and see it. 

“People still love murder-mysteries, whodunits, Poirots, Miss Marples, all those kind of things.”

Cluedo - the UK tour - starts on Friday 28th January in Bromley, and runs all the way through to 11th July in Wolverhampton. Tickets are available at cluedostageplay.com

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.

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