Dreamscape’s Toyah news for October 2019 to January 2020 has now been archived. Interviews, press clips, official news, Toyah’s tweets, live gig info, radio appearances, releases, television listings and much more. Click below to visit our News Archive, where you can also explore 19 years and 10 months of past Toyah news – dating all the way back to March 2000!
Check out, the newly revamped, Toyah Willcox Interview Archive. There’s an abundance of Toyah goodies and curiosities to explore.
Toyah and Hazel O’Connor team up for Electric Ladies of the 80s tour heading for Derbyshire
Innovators of post punk and new wave during their Eighties heyday, Toyah and Hazel O’Connor are joining forces in a show heading for Derbyshire.
They will be performing at Buxton Opera House, April 24, as part of the Electric Ladies of the 80s tour.
Toyah and Hazel have a combined back catalogue of around 60 albums as well as a number of television and film credits between them. They initially met in 1980 while auditioning for the film Breaking Glass and their musical careers have run parallel without actually crossing paths, until now.
• Continue reading at the Derbyshire Times. Book tickets for the tour here.
Square Chapel Arts Centre is celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with a series of live events and special film screenings
During February 2020, Square Chapel Arts Centre is celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with a series of live events and special film screenings.
LGBT History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBT community.
The programme of events Square Chapel has on for audiences includes:
The Tempest + Christopher Biggins Q&A
On Thursday 13 February from 7:00pm audiences can see The Tempest, a film directed by Derek Jarman and starring Toyah Willcox and Christopher Biggins. The film will be followed by an in conversation with the English stage and screen actor, Christopher Biggins who is best known for his role as Lukewarm in the BBC sitcom Porridge. Fans can expect an entertaining evening from this national treasure.
Jubilee + Toyah Willcox Q&A + Gig
On Saturday 1 February from 4.45pm the arts centre will start will screen the film Jubilee starring Toyah Willcox and directed by Derek Jarman, followed by a Q&A hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins. The night will end with a live gig from Toyah and her band.
• Continue reading at Square Chapel Arts Centre.
Invasion Planet Earth Exclusive Clip: Hitch a Ride to The Mother Ship
Screen Anarchy is pleased to present to you this morning an exclusive from the UK indie sci fi flick, Invasion Planet Earth.
A micro-budget sci-fi UK film that’s been 20 years in the making, Invasion Planet Earth is much more than a British Independence Day. With filmmaking efforts reminiscent of early Roger Corman and a nod to the sci-fi programs of the ’70s and ’80s like Doctor Who and Buck Rogers as well as the more recent Torchwood, Invasion Planet Earth will appeal not only to science fiction audiences but fans of multiple genres.
In our exclusive clip Thomas hitches a ride into the Mother Ship. We get this sort of giddy excitement watching this clip and its can-do spirit.
• Continue reading at Screen Anarchy.
Anchoress, the 1993 Chris Newby directed film, with Christopher Eccleston, Pete Postlethwaite, Natalie Morse and Toyah, is airing on London Live a few times over the next 10 days, beginning tonight.
Anchoress: London Live: Friday 24th January: 10pm
Anchoress: London Live: Monday 27th January: 11pm
Anchoress: London Live: Monday 3rd February: 0.00am
A peasant girl develops a fascination with a statue of the Virgin Mary, which prompts a priest to sentence her to be walled up in the church. When she discovers her mother is to be tried as a witch, she resolves to break free from her imprisonment, even if it costs her her life. Medieval drama, starring Natalie Morse, Toyah Willcox, Pete Postlethwaite, Christopher Eccleston, Gene Bervoets, Brenda Bertin. Director: Chris Newby
Independent Venue Week: Toyah Willcox, Dan Donnelly & Mik Artistik at Square Chapel
For the second year, Square Chapel Arts Centre will be offering a programme of events as part of Independent Venue Week. A national celebration of live music and comedy, the events are performed in, and organised by, independent venues like the Halifax arts centre. This year’s line-up for gig goers includes the fascinating musician and comedian Mik Artistik, punk princess Toyah Willcox, The Wonder Stuff ‘s Dan Donnelly, and Clinton Baptiste from Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights.
On Saturday 1 February, Square Chapel welcomes back punk princess and cult stage actress, Toyah Willcox.
Willcox is a uniquely gifted performer and an inextinguishable flame. Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s beloved household names – an award-winning rock legend, renowned stage and screen actress (Jubilee, Quadrophenia) and music composer. Toyah has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-five albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays, acted in over twenty feature films and presented hundreds of television programmes.
The film Jubilee, starring Toyah, and directed by Derek Jarman, will commence at 4.45pm, followed by an ‘in conversation’ with Toyah and hosted by BBC 6 Music presenter, Chris Hawkins. The evening will end with a live gig from Toyah and her band. Tickets for all three elements of this event are priced at £30.
• Continue reading at the Yorkshire Times. See more info on the Jubilee film screening, In Conversation with Toyah, and full band gig here.
A previously unheard section of Richard Green’s interview with Toyah, which was originally broadcast in June 2019, aired on Saturday on Richard’s BBC Radio Devon show. There was also plays of It’s A Mystery and Dance In The Hurricane.
Toyah talks In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, the two Toyahs, In Extremis and more.
• Listen at BBC Sounds for the next four weeks. The interview and songs begin just a few minutes into the show.
Toyah Willcox wows crowds in Wolverhampton with show – in pictures
Singer, actress and punk icon Toyah, originally from King’s Heath, headlined the Slade Rooms on Saturday as part of her In The Court of the Crimson Queen tour.
The tour came to Wolverhampton on Saturday, after an October date at The Mill, in Birmingham, had to be rescheduled due to logistical reasons.
Toyah, whose career spans more than 40 years, is well known for hits including It’s A Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want To Be Free. She was supported on the night by Nature of Wires and Among the Echoes.
Toyah will return to the region later this year, joining forces with Hazel O’Connor for their Electric Ladies of the 80s Tour. The show comes to Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday, April 25. For tickets, visit www.seetickets.com.
• Continue reading at the Express & Star. Tickets for the final Crimson Queen Tour date, at O2 Academy London next Saturday (25th January), are available here.
Toyah Willcox returns again to Acapela. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Household name, pop icon, TV presenter, and stage/screen actress (Calamity Jane, Cabaret, Peter Pan, Jubilee, Quadrophenia) Toyah comes to Acapela in July with her Acoustic, Up Close & Personal show.
This is a unique chance to experience Toyah in an intimate setting where music and stories take centre stage. This lively, entertaining and revealing show comes in the form of Toyah performing an unplugged set of her well-loved hits and classic songs, alongside recalling stories from her colourful, thirty-five-year career.
A talented duo of guitarists, Chris Wong and Colin Hinds, accompany Toyah on meticulous and melodic acoustic versions of the hits It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, I Want To Be Free and Good Morning Universe through to Sensational.
• Continue reading/Book tickets here.
The first of two rescheduled Crimson Queen Tour dates takes place tonight at The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. The original date was 18th October 2019 and all tickets remain valid. Further details and last minute ticket booking link is available here or by clicking below.
Look who’s coming to Selby Town Hall’s biggest ever spring season…
Selby Town Hall’s spring season will be its biggest ever with 27 live shows between February and the start of June, plus a trio of Edinburgh Fringe previews in July.
“There’s the usual mix of folk, Americana, stand-up, pop, rock, theatre and more with chart-toppers, cult indie royalty, a Grammy winner, the radio voice who guided my teenage pop dreams, a primetime impersonator tinkling the ivories and even a 13-piece orchestra,” says Selby Town Council arts officer Chris Jones.
“We had a good end to 2019 with a surprise listing in the Guardian as one of the UK’s best tiny venues and that seems to have spilled over into 2020 with strong early sales. It’s full steam ahead.”
The programme’s headline stars include punk princess, actor, television presenter and Top Ten hit maker Toyah with her stripped-back Acoustic, Up Close & Personal show on February 21; Mark Radcliffe: Loser?, a solo show of words and songs from the BBC6 Music and Radio 2 presenter, on April 2, and impersonator Alistair McGowan, in his new-found guise as a classical pianist, in The Piano Show on May 22.
• Continue reading here.
NB: Selby Town Hall at Twitter say: We’ve now sold out for Arabella Weir, Toyah, Paul Sinha, Way Down Wanderer and Lucy Porter – great work people of Selby and environs!
Tonight sees Toyah plays her first live date of the year, and indeed the new decade! An Acoustic, Up Close & Personal gig at The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant in Hampshire. Further details and last minute ticket booking link is available here or by clicking below.
Lovely’s Vintage Emporium is proud to exclusively hold a charity sale of 1980s celebrity actress and singer Toyah Willcox’s vintage fashion, jewellery and accessories, from her private collection. Click here or below to go shopping! (Photos © Lovely’s Vintage/Toyah Willcox)
• The Spring: Acoustic, Up Close & Personal: Did you know that Toyah has had 8 UK Top 40 singles? Can you name them all? Which is your favourite? See Toyah up close and personal at The Spring this Friday, only a few standing tickets available – Continue reading…
• Acoustic, Up Close & Personal: PizzaExpress Live (Holborn): Household name, pop icon, TV presenter, and stage/screen actress (Calamity Jane, Cabaret, Peter Pan, Jubilee, Quadophenia) Toyah comes to PizzaExpress Live, with her ‘Acoustic, Up Close & Personal’ show – Continue reading/Book tickets…
• In The Court Of The Crimson Queen – UK Tour: Toyah plays Wolverhampton Slade Rooms this Saturday, 18th January. Tickets come with a free meet & greet on first come, first served basis. Tickets available here…
• NEConnected: Electric Ladies of the 80s – Toyah and Hazel bring on two north-east shows: Innovators of post punk and new wave during their eighties heyday, much-loved artists, Toyah, 61, and Hazel O’Connor, 64, are delighted to join forces to bring forth their new tour, Electric Ladies of the 80s – Continue reading…
• Back To The Movies: Doll House, a UK micro budget indie horror movie is set to get a UK release and we had the honor of seeing it very early indeed. A move that cost just £25,000 to make! – Continue reading…
• Doll House: Watch the trailer at You Tube…
• Noel’s House Party: BBC One – Season 7: Episode 19 / 14.03.98: Special guests include Les Dennis, 911, Sian Lloyd, Nick Owen, Shane Richie, John Stapleton and Toyah Willcox – Continue watching…
• Adam’s Nostalgic Memories: CBBC Memories – Barmy Aunt Boomerang: This is a CBBC sitcom with a fantasy twist that I only remember watching occasionally at the time, but looking back it is an interesting show, so I thought that it was worth featuring here – Continue reading…
Punk princess and 1980s icon coming to Halifax
Four-time Brit Award nominee and 1980s punk princess Toyah Wilcox is set to play in Halifax on February 1.
The gig comes after Square Chapel Arts Centre will be offering a programme of events as part of Independent Venue Week (IVW) for a second year in a row.
IVW is a national celebration of live music and comedy acts on the notion that events are performed in and ran by independent venues like the Halifax arts centre.
A spokesperson from the venue said: “Willcox is a uniquely gifted performer and an inextinguishable flame.
“Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s beloved household names – an award-winning rock legend as well as a much-loved stage and screen actress (Jubilee, Quadrophenia) and music composer.”
• Continue reading at the Halifax Courier.
Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts: Friday 24th January: 9pm
Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts: Sunday 26th January: 11pm
Celebrity fans and cast members come together to shed light on the making of Quadrophenia and explore the legacy that the cult film has left behind, 40 years after its release. (Photo © Sky Arts)
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Monday 27th January: 2pm
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Tuesday 28th January: 3.05am
New Romantics. Toyah Willcox and Billy Bragg are among those examining the New Romantic movement, from The Human League and Adam Ant, to David Bowie and Ultravox. (Series 1, Episode 16)
Anchoress, the 1993 Chris Newby directed film, with Christopher Eccleston, Pete Postlethwaite, Natalie Morse and Toyah, is airing on London Live later this month.
Anchoress: London Live: Friday 24th January: 10pm
Anchoress: London Live: Monday 27th January: 11pm
A peasant girl develops a fascination with a statue of the Virgin Mary, which prompts a priest to sentence her to be walled up in the church. When she discovers her mother is to be tried as a witch, she resolves to break free from her imprisonment, even if it costs her her life. Medieval drama, starring Natalie Morse, Toyah Willcox, Pete Postlethwaite, Christopher Eccleston, Gene Bervoets, Brenda Bertin. Director: Chris Newby
Anchoress Info: Toyah plays the role of Pauline Carpenter in Anchoress, a 1993 British drama film directed by Chris Newby. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.
The screenplay is partly based on accounts of an historical female anchorite, Christine Carpenter, who was walled into her anchorhold in a village church in Surrey, England, in 1329. The story revolves around the girl’s mystical visions of the Virgin Mary, the Priest who walls her into his village church, and his dislike of her mother, a midwife whom he regards as a witch.
The film is shot in black-and-white and visually resembles the works of Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer, especially The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) – Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.
Wow! It’s release has only just been announced and already Toyah Solo is doing incredibly well at Amazon: #1 in New Wave & Post-Punk, #1 in Box Sets (CDs & Vinyl), #1 in Pop Rock and #2 in CDs & Vinyl. Pretty impressive. But that’s just half the story, as these stats are for the Limited Edition version (which appears to have already sold out) of the forthcoming box set. The other version of the set (without the signed print) is at #2 and #3 on these sales charts too!
Stay tuned to this website for a Toyah Solo Newsy Bits & Pieces! update soon. Browse further info on Toyah’s first box set release at toyahwillcox.com and the official order page.
Toyah and Hazel O’Connor to bring their Electric Ladies of the 80s tour to Dorset
Innovators of post punk and new wave during their eighties heyday, much-loved artists, Toyah, 61, and Hazel O’Connor, 64, are delighted to join forces to bring forth their new tour, Electric Ladies of the 80s.
It calls in at the Tivoli, Wimborne, on April 18.
Two of the most recognisable artists of the modern era, Toyah and Hazel have a combined back catalogue of around 60 albums as well as a number of television and film credits between them dating back to the late seventies.
Initially meeting when auditioning for Breaking Glass in 1980, alongside Kate Bush, the careers of the two musicians have ran somewhat parallel without actually crossing paths, until now.
Speaking of their finally hitting the road together Hazel giggled: “Toyah and I, we just work together, although it’s taken us forty years to do this. We finally get the opportunity to do it and it’s great; I always love watching her perform, she’s certainly the roadmap of my life and her music has always been a part of it.”
• Continue reading at the Bournemouth Echo. Book tickets for the tour here.
