Toyah played Bessie Watty in the 1978, made for television, remake of a 1945 Bette Davis movie, The Corn Is Green. Starring the legendary Katharine Hepburn and directed by George Cukor, Toyah was working with “Hollywood royalty”. The film continues to air sporadically on UK television.
There’s something for everyone in the week-long Stortfest Crawl, a spectacular celebration of music and the arts which launches next Sunday.
Dozens of venues across town are getting in on the act, hosting gigs, poetry recitals, comedy nights, family fun days and loads more activities for all ages and tastes. The event is being co-ordinated by the team behind the long-running Stortford Music Festival, which is taking a break from its regular format at St Mary’s Catholic School in Windhill.
Headlining the proceedings is 80s New Wave and punk-pop sensation Toyah Willcox, who is marking the 30th anniversary of her celebrated album The Changeling with a concert at Rhodes.
• Continue reading, at ‘Herts & Essex Observer’, here.
A new article, by Chris Limb, on his memoir ‘I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan’.
After a while the novelty of there being an Amazon page for my book began to wear off. It was no longer enough for me to browse to it and look adoringly at a page on which the spaces in the dynamic web template were filled by my own creation’s meta-data. So I had self-published. How was I going to promote it? Even though it was now available in paperback and ebook, the thing wasn’t going to sell itself.
• Continue reading, at ‘Catmachine’, here.
A great news update by Toyah’s official website on Wednesday, covering Toyah’s new tour image, the fantastic reviews and that Brighton sold out and Bush Hall, London looks like doing so also.
After remarkable response and amazing reviews, including four-stars from thisisnotretro.com, Toyah continues to resurrect the The Changeling tonight at Bristol Tunnels.
With a brand new image created especially for the tour and material not performed in thirty years, this is a true celebration and re-interpretation of one of Toyah finest albums. The tour then continues to London’s Bush Hall on Sunday 22 April which is approximately 15 tickets away from a completely sold out show, so act quick if you wish to catch the show. Full ticket links and venue details can be found at the GIGS page.
Photos © Toyah Willcox/Dean Stockings
The ‘British Theatre Guide’ website include details on Sleeping Beauty in their latest “panto news” update. No new info but they do use a, previously unpublished, full-length photo of the main cast.
Evolution Productions have also announced full casting for their version of Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury which will feature Toyah Willcox as Carabosse, Gareth Gates as the Prince, Ben Roddy as the Dame, Lloyd Hollett as the Storyteller, Katrina Bryan as the Fairy and Faye Brookes as Sleeping Beauty herself.
• Visit ‘The British Theatre Guide’ website here.
(The full photo is also being used in the, just published, Marlowe Theatre Summer brochure)
Jubilee, Toyah’s first film. She played Mad, a pyromaniac. Directed by Derek Jarman, it premiered on 22nd February 1978 at Bloomsbury Square Odeon, aka Gate 2, London. The film was derided in its first few years but has become something of a cult movie over the last decade and is regularly written about in online blogs and articles. Jubilee also featured Adam Ant in his first role, as well as Richard O’Brien and Little Nell of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
PHOTOS
Concorde2, Brighton, The Tunnels, Bristol: View here.
OFFICIAL
Changeling Resurrection: The Official Page: View here.
Official news updates: View here.
REVIEWS
This Is Not Retro/Exeter Post: View all here.
VENUES
Changeling Resurrection: Brighton news: View here.
Changeling Resurrection: Bristol news: View here.
THE CHANGELING RESURRECTION
General news round-up: View here.
More colourful photos of Toyah, and band, from Bristol. Please click on each of the below to view larger versions. (Thanks to Paul Cable, pictured with Toyah, for the photos)
The Most Fertile Man In Ireland : Sky Movies Indie – Wednesday 2nd May: 9.25am
Satirical comedy with Kris Marshall, Kathy Keira Clarke, Bronagh Gallagher, James Nesbitt, Kenneth Cranham, Olivia Nash, Pauline McLynn, Tara Lynne O’Neill, Toyah Willcox, Harry Towb, Marc O’Shea and Paddy McCarney. Also airing on Sky Movies Indie HD.
The print version of the ‘Exeter Post’ review of Wednesday night’s gig. Dawn Killick’s 9/10 appraisal is full of positivity for Toyah and the gig.
… she then sang Dawn Chorus, Angel and Jungles Of Jupiter: the latter showcasing the talents of the band and also the higher range of her voice, with Toyah sounding better than ever.
View a larger version of the scan. (Thanks to Chris Cox)
Wow! Another fantastic review for the tour. I must say it’s good to finally hear journalists say what we, Toyah’s fans, have been saying for 30-odd years!
Toyah Willcox played the tunnels in a special 30th anniversary tour to celebrate her 1982 albums, The Changeling and Warrior Rock.
Toyah burst on to the stage in her signature striking headdress and delivered a high energy performance for well over an hour and a half, with three whirlwind costume changes.
The opening number was Good Morning Universe, which highlighted her still very youthful voice, then moved to Creepy Room and Castaways. By this time the crowd was moving and swaying with exaggerated hand movements in time with Toyah’s. Then, for the first time since 1981 at the Hammersmith Odeon, she played Brave New World, which, she admitted, made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.
• Continue reading at ‘This is Exeter’ here.
The post-gig response to the second concert of ‘The Changeling Resurrection’ tour, at The Tunnels in Bristol, has been as positive and enthusiastic as the premiere in Brighton at the weekend.
‘Demolition Men’ and ‘We Are’ which weren’t played at Brighton due to time constraints were played in Bristol. View a selection of fan videos from the gig at You Tube. (Thanks to Stuart)
More photos from The Tunnels gig, Bristol on Wednesday night. Please click on each of the photos to view larger versions. (Thanks again to Angus for all these great Toyah shots)
Three more brilliant photos of Toyah, by Chris, from Wednesday night’s gig in Bristol. Please click on each of the photos to view larger versions. (Thanks again to Chris Cox)
Lärwi’s fantastic ‘Toyah Willcox Interview Archive’ is also now available on Facebook.
Another two of Toyah from Bristol. Click on each for larger versions. (Thanks to Chris Cox)
Photos from the second gig of ‘The Changeling Resurrection’ tour at The Tunnels, Bristol on Wednesday night. These shots of Toyah are by Angus Turner (pictured alongside our favourite changeling), who said Toyah went down a storm with the Bristol audience. Please click on each of the photos to view larger versions. (Thanks to Angus who is always so generous with his gig photos – Hello also to Zoe (from Cornwall) who was at the Bristol concert, from Angus)
Just a reminder that Psychic Therapy, Bio’s one-hour special on Toyah which was originally broadcast in September 2009, airs again today.
Psychic Therapy: Toyah Willcox: Bio: Fri 20th April: 1pm
Toyah Willcox. Gordon Smith journeys into the remarkably diverse career of Toyah Willcox – singer, actress, presenter, writer and businesswoman. Psychic medium, Smith, reveals some of the star’s innermost secrets, delving into her past and predicting her future with help from the spirit world.
Three Piece Suite was a six part series of half hour programmes, all starring Diana Rigg. Each show was cut up into three 10 minute plays. Toyah plays a character called Buzz in Episode Five, This Situation…! It also featured George Baker and aired on BBC2 in April 1977.
Toyah’s debut theatre role, playing Emma in Tales From The Vienna Woods, with The National Theatre Company, at The Laurence Olivier Theatre, London was an audacious beginning. The production had a large cast and also starred Stephen Rea, Warren Clarke, Brenda Blethyn and Elizabeth Spriggs. It was directed by Maximilian Schell and opened on 21st January 1977.
Toyah’s first professional acting role, first television appearance, first music performances – all included in Glitter, a 30 minute drama from the BBC’s ‘Second City Firsts’. Also appearing are Phil Daniels, Noel Edmonds and Doremy Vernon (probably best remembered as the Canteen Manager in Are You Being Served?). Toyah’s character, Sue, also performs two songs with the band Bilbo Baggins, ‘Floating Free’ and ‘Heartbreaker’. Further info on Glitter here.
